‘He Will Be Shooting For His Life’ – Joshua Perreira Returns From Career-Threatening Injury With Statement To Make
Joshua “Flyin Hawaiian” Perreira has endured a nightmarish journey through injury, surgery, and rehab, but he’s determined to prove that adversity has only made him more dangerous.
The undefeated 29-year-old sensation will make his highly anticipated return against Gilbert Nakatani in an all-American flyweight MMA showdown.
That battle goes down at ONE Fight Night 42 on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, April 10.
Perreira, who is now based in Ohio, brought a perfect 5-0 record into his ONE Championship debut against Chinese star Banma “The Prince” Duoji in March 2025.
However, disaster struck early when the American’s right knee twisted twice during a routine striking exchange, creating the opening Banma needed to capitalize and finish the fight. What initially appeared to be a TKO loss was later overturned to a no contest, but the damage to Perreira’s knee would prove far more significant than the result on his record.
The Hawaii-born star, who loves all things related to dinosaurs, told onefc.com:
“I popped a jab the same way I’ve popped a jab thousands of times. My foot goes this way, the rest of my body goes this way, and I get this sharp stinging sensation right on top of my knee. I kept fighting through it for as long as I could.”
That warrior mentality of continuing to compete despite immense pain speaks to Perreira’s toughness, but the injury required medical attention that would sideline him for months. The diagnosis revealed the extent of the damage and the long road ahead.
The initial surgery addressed the immediate structural damage, but Perreira’s recovery hit an unexpected complication when his leg failed to regain full range of motion. A second surgical intervention became necessary to identify and resolve the issue.
The “Flyin Hawaiian” shared:
“It was an ACL tear, a complete tear with meniscus damage on both sides. I got a big scar right down the top of my knee and a couple of puncture holes on the sides. I had two surgeries. The first one was just to reconnect everything and sew up all the meniscus on both sides. My leg was locked out, completely straight for about a month.
“A couple months passed, and we noticed my leg wasn’t bending past a certain point. We go back in, they scope it, and it turns out there was a cyst – like, a scar tissue cyst – on my knee that prevented the knee from bending further. After that was out, I have a full range of motion now.”
The physical challenges, while severe, represented only part of Perreira’s struggle. The mental and emotional toll of a career-threatening injury created darkness that no surgery could repair.
Extended periods of helplessness while watching life continue without him created despair that athletes rarely discuss publicly. The inability to train, to pursue the passion that defined his identity, left him feeling purposeless and lost.
Perreira confessed:
“I wish I could say it was all sunshine and rainbows. Some days were great, some days were awful. There were good days, there were bad days. I lost some things, lost some family. And you know, just that helpless feeling of not being able to do anything.”
Perreira Promises Finish Against American Rival
Joshua Perreira’s return brings him face-to-face with an opponent whose career path mirrors his own in many ways.
The “Flyin Hawaiian” will battle 32-year-old Gilbert Nakatani, a fellow product of North America’s regional MMA circuit who is coming off a jaw-dropping knockout victory. Both fighters competed in the LFA promotion, but their paths never directly crossed until now.
Perreira recognizes the challenges Nakatani presents. The Immortal Martial Arts representative watched his opponent’s fights while they both competed in the LFA, studying the wrestling-based grappling and knockout power that made the Japanese-American so successful.
The Hawaiian-born martial artist said:
“He has that grit, heart, and knockout power, especially in his last fight with a very experienced fighter. And even his first fight, being able to challenge the current champion [Yuya Wakamatsu]. I have an extremely tough opponent in front of me.
“I remember watching his fights while I was in the LFA. He was in the LFA at the same time, and he’s a very tough wrestler with huge heart and a lot of power. He’s an MMA grappler. He mixes everything very, very well. But once I get into my flow, he will be shooting for his life.”
The “Flyin Hawaiian” recognizes Nakatani will enter the contest with a clear approach designed to neutralize his striking prowess. However, Perreira has no intention of allowing the fight to reach the judges’ scorecards.
Throughout his professional career, Perreira has stopped every opponent. That instinctual tendency doesn’t disappear simply because he’s returning from a serious injury. If anything, the layoff has sharpened his hunger to prove himself in spectacular fashion.
The 29-year-old said:
“We have a good idea of what he wants to do to get the judges’ nod, but as you can see, that for my record, I do not leave it in the hands of the judges. If I see blood in the water, or if I see a way to finish the fight, I will end the fight.
“I am predicting a TKO in the second round. I will be overwhelming him in the first round with feints, and I will see the opportunity arise and go for the finish.”
