‘Very Confident In My Ability To Finish The Fight’ – Natalie Salcedo’s Bold Prediction At ONE Fight Night 39
Natalie Salcedo’s unbeaten run meets its sternest test yet when she squares off against Chihiro Sawada at ONE Fight Night 39: Rambolek vs. Dayakaev on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime this Friday, January 23.
The American phenom enters the women’s atomweight MMA clash at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium with momentum and growing belief in her ceiling inside the world’s largest martial arts organization.
But standing across the ring will be a grappler who has overwhelmed nearly everyone placed in front of her.
Sawada is a decorated wrestler who has built her reputation on suffocating pressure, clinch dominance, and relentless takedowns that steadily erase opponents’ options.
The Japanese athlete’s fighting style and grappling prowess have proven difficult to overcome. But from Salcedo’s perspective, it’s a puzzle that she believes is solvable.
She said:
“In a lot of ways, I think Chihiro isn’t a hard person to figure out. I think everybody knows that her wrestling is probably one of her strongest strengths and something that she plans to use, and that’s fine.
“We’re prepared for the fight wherever it goes. I think that she’s gonna be a really good opponent. She has a really great record. I’m coming in as the underdog, and I think that we’re really prepared for that. It’s gonna be a good fight.”
Salcedo arrives at ONE Fight Night 39 with a flawless record, and she is fresh off a first-round submission victory over Macarena Aragon in her promotional debut last September. That performance showcased her ability to capitalize decisively once the action hits the ground.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Japanese grappler enters the matchup with a fearsome resume of her own. She has compiled double-digit victories built largely on pressure, positional dominance, and a grinding pace that leaves opponents little room to breathe.
While Sawada’s success has been rooted in control, Salcedo believes the difference lies in depth.
The 33-year-old Colorado Springs resident said:
“I’m really confident. I’m really able to fight in any position, whether it’s on the feet, on the ground, or in the wrestling exchanges. So, I think in a lot of ways what I’ll be bringing to the fight is just a little bit more depth, being able to fight Chihiro anywhere.
“I feel like the way that I fight is also really exciting, whether it’s in a lot of scrambles, training positions, or in a lot of striking exchanges.”
That versatility is not theoretical. It has been forged through years of constant competition and repetition, particularly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, where Salcedo has logged an extraordinary volume of matches across multiple levels.
Those experiences have shaped her composure in chaotic exchanges, and her skills have translated well into the all-encompassing sport, where she has built a pristine 4-0 professional record.
That extensive background fuels her belief that she can accomplish something no opponent has managed to do thus far, which is stop the former Shooto Champion inside the distance.
The BJJ black belt said:
“I think that we’re very well prepared for the things that she does, and I’m very confident in my ability to finish the fight.
“I definitely think it’s possible for me to get a TKO, for sure. But I think it’s probably more likely going to be from a submission.”
Salcedo Targets Division’s Biggest Names
For Natalie Salcedo, a victory over Chihiro Sawada at ONE Fight Night 39 would do more than preserve her undefeated record. It would undoubtedly move her to the upper echelon of a women’s atomweight MMA division that is stacked with elite talent.
With contenders jostling for position and the World Title picture continuing to evolve, Salcedo knows a decisive performance against one of the most imposing figures in the weight class could accelerate her rise faster than any resume line ever could.
She said:
“If I beat Chihiro, especially if I beat her dominantly, I think that sends a really strong message to ONE Championship about where I should rank among the current atomweights.
“Even if between now and the next few months they wanna offer me another contender bout or another fight to see who’s gonna be the number one contender, I think that makes sense. That’s definitely something that I would be really excited to do.”
ONE Championship’s women’s atomweight MMA division is widely regarded as one of the deepest and most technically diverse in the sport today, featuring a blend of established World Champions, global stars, and emerging contenders.
Salcedo has already identified the names that motivate her most, led by reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga and former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex.
She said:
“I think that for anybody in the division, fighting Stamp is always something that we look forward to, something that we’re hoping for. She’s such a big name with such a great reputation and accolades. Her name carries a lot of weight.
“I think definitely Denice is a great fighter as well. Those are the two names that I’ve been having my eye on this last couple of months.”
