‘I’m Only Starting To Build My Legacy’ – Diogo Reis Predicts Guillotine Finish In Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title Clash At ONE Fight Night 38
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis stands on the edge of a defining moment.
On Friday, December 5, in U.S. primetime, the 23-year-old Brazilian will collide with Japan’s Daiki Yonekura for the vacant ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title at ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu on Prime Video, airing live from the storied Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
The matchup brings together two master technicians in a duel that promises urgency, invention, and danger under ONE’s aggressive submission-only rule set.
Reis’ journey to this stage began far from any spotlight. In Manaus, Brazil, he honed his craft with little more than discipline, perseverance, and a hunger that outgrew the room he trained in.
He said:
“What makes me different from the other athletes is my mind. Since I was a kid, I didn’t have big gyms or extra teachers. I’ve reached this level of jiu-jitsu with the minimum things.
“Now I have all this support, so if I did all of that without it, [I know] I can go to the next level.”
That mindset became the force that propelled his meteoric rise. It pushed him through Brazil’s competitive circuits, later across the United States, and eventually onto the global stage.
Along the way, the Brazilian prodigy captured accolades across the globe – including two ADCC World Championships in 2022 and 2024 – yet he still views the pursuit of ONE gold as a pillar moment in his evolving legacy.
Those humble beginnings continue to guide him. Even as a two-time World Champion, Reis insists that his hunger is only growing.
He said:
“I’m very young. I’m only 23. I know I can [achieve] more. I’m only starting to build my legacy.
“I’m only in the beginning of everything. So I have a big way until I become a legend in the sport.”
It’s a mantra that has fueled him through thousands of hours on the mats, turning pressure into something closer to purpose.
With 93 career victories, Reis often speaks of pressure as confirmation that he is walking the right path, that his work is resonating beyond the walls of the gym.
He said:
“This is the consequence of my hard work. I’m a guy who doesn’t sit and do nothing – I let my work talk for me. So I’m just happy because I work very hard, and then the results come by themselves. Being in ONE now is a big opportunity. So I can show my skills to the world.”
Reis Breaks Down Yonekura’s Weapons Ahead Of His Defining Moment
At ONE Fight Night 38, Diogo Reis crosses paths with a dangerous and rapidly rising force in Daiki Yonekura, one of Japan’s best submission artists.
With sharp leg locks, crisp mechanics, and victories over respected Brazilian grapplers, Yonekura has carved out a reputation as a lethal and unpredictable threat.
He remembers the exact moment the Japanese standout caught his attention – a decisive submission win over a Brazilian friend that instantly signaled Yonekura’s skill and potential.
The BJJ College standout said:
“I know he is one of the best in Japan. I saw him defeat my Brazilian friend. If he’s one of the best in Japan, it’s good for me. I’m ready to defeat him.
“I never underestimate [anyone.] I know he’s really good. He has good leg locks and foot locks, so he’s really good on that.”
Still, Reis believes he carries something intangible into this match, which is familiarity with ONE’s global stage.
His debut at ONE Fight Night 29, where he chained a head-scissor choke into a kimura to finish Shoya Ishiguro, was a declaration. It proved that his creativity and aggression were tailor-made for ONE Championship’s rule sets.
He said:
“My experience is going to be the big advantage. The first ONE event was all new. Now I know how everything works – the travel, the hotel, the training, all these stuff. Everything has changed since the first time I arrived here.
“Winning this belt is everything to me. [I’m grateful] ONE is giving me the opportunity. It’s one more big achievement in my career.”
Still, Yonekura’s ambition mirrors his own. Two global stars, two contrasting paths, and one belt lie at the center of their collision. Only one will walk out with history strapped around their waist.
Reis already knows how he intends to seize it.
He said:
“I want to finish this fight by guillotine.”
