‘I’m Not Scared Of Anybody’ – Gilbert Nakatani Is Coming For Joshua Perreira And The Flyweight MMA Elite
Gilbert Nakatani believes his true arrival in ONE Championship has finally begun.
The 32-year-old contender makes his highly anticipated return at ONE Fight Night 42 on Prime Video, where he faces Joshua “Flyin Hawaiian” Perreira in an all-American flyweight MMA showdown, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, April 10.
For the man who perfects his craft at Aragon Training Academy in Pasadena, California, this is the continuation of a surge he ignited with an explosive first-round knockout over Indonesian standout Eko Roni Saputra at ONE Fight Night 37 last November.
Not only did that performance earn the American his first promotional victory, but it reaffirmed the level he believed he had been operating at long before joining ONE Championship.
After dropping competitive decisions to reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu and Filipino knockout artist Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado in his first two appearances on the global stage, Nakatani finally entered the ring fully healthy and showed exactly what he is capable of.
The California native said:
“I had no flaws. I walked out unscathed. I feel like if I do what I’m supposed to do and can continue to be healthy, and I go into this next fight and treat it just the way I did the last one, then I can easily get another first-round finish. If not, a second.
“So, I don’t see me giving these guys any more chances. I’m gonna go in there and give it my all, and not try to take any chances and get the win by finish.”
That confidence is not new. It is built on a track record that predates his ONE Championship tenure.
Before signing with the world’s largest martial arts organization in late 2024, Nakatani compiled an 8-1 professional record on the North American circuit, with six stoppage victories inside the first two rounds.
The West Covina native’s aggressive, finish-first approach and wrestling-based control had already marked him as a dangerous competitor. And when that version of Nakatani finally showed up on the global stage, the result was a statement.
Saputra, known for his knockout power, elite wrestling, and finishing ability, was neutralized and stopped before he could impose his game.
Nakatani identified the opening, committed without hesitation, and closed the show with clinical precision. Even he acknowledged how cleanly everything came together.
The Japanese-American added:
“I almost surprised myself. I know what I’m capable of, but it was like one of these and one of these, and he went down. I was like, ‘Whoa!’
“Everything just played out perfectly. It was a flawless victory, and I feel like I’ve had plenty of those over here in California.”
Now, he carries that momentum into a matchup with a very different kind of opponent.
Perreira entered the organization with a spotless 5-0 professional record, but his promotional debut was cut short when he suffered a serious knee injury against Banma “The Prince” Duoji in March 2025. The bout was later ruled a no contest, and the setback required surgery and months of recovery.
In contrast, Nakatani has already been tested against established names inside ONE Championship’s ultra-stacked flyweight MMA division, and now he carries the confidence of a breakthrough performance into his upcoming battle.
From his perspective, that matters:
“I just feel like my skill set and my level of competition have been a little bit harder. He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s athletic. He’s well-rounded. But with my pressure, my speed, and all of my attributes, I feel very confident in this fight.”
Nakatani Eyes Redemption Against Wakamatsu, Miado
While ONE Fight Night 42 in U.S. primetime on Friday, April 10, presents a critical opportunity, Gilbert Nakatani’s ambitions extend far beyond a single matchup.
The Californian’s early setbacks in ONE Championship remain a powerful source of motivation, particularly his clash with reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu. Despite the result, he believes that bout revealed more than the scorecards suggested.
Nakatani said:
“He’s finishing everybody, but he didn’t finish me. I was not healthy, so I’m looking forward to getting that rematch one day.”
That same drive extends to his loss against Jeremy Miado, another bout he still views as unfinished business.
But Nakatani understands the path back to those opportunities requires consistency. In a division defined by speed and depth, each performance must build toward true contention.
He added:
“I’ll work my way back to Wakamatsu. I know it’s not easy to get to the title, so I’m willing to do what I have to do to get there and fight whoever they put in front of me.
“I’m not scared of anybody in this world, so I’m ready to just go in there, give it my all, and continue to climb the ranks. Hopefully, one day, I’ll get the Miado rematch and then maybe one day after that, I’ll get the Wakamatsu rematch.”
