Yuya Wakamatsu Eyes World Title Shot After Frantic War With Gilbert Nakatani At ONE Fight Night 26
Last Friday in U.S. primetime, Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu came out on top after a 15-minute slugfest with American standout Gilbert Nakatani in their flyweight MMA clash at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
That hard-fought victory at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov extended the Japanese star’s winning streak to three and further entrenched him as the division’s #2-ranked contender.
Wakamatsu was certainly pleased to get his hand raised against a dangerous and aggressive opponent, but he admitted that an early inadvertent blow to the back of his head threw him off for much of the fight.
“Little Piranha” told onefc.com:
“The fact that I won this fight, I’m happy about that. But also, I got hit in the first round to the back of the head, so I don’t remember much.
“As a martial artist, I didn’t do a very good job, but the fact that I won, that’s good. The result is good.”
The 29-year-old veteran came into his showdown with Nakatani in top form and was feeling great until absorbing the blow.
After that, he said, he was fighting on pure instincts:
“I believe that I was in prime condition until the moment that I got hit on the back of my head. Until that, I was in my prime condition. But after getting hit in the back of my head, I couldn’t remember much.”
Still, Wakamatsu was quick to give Nakatani plenty of credit for his gritty display of heart and toughness.
The debuting American took some of “Little Piranha’s” biggest shots and never waivered in his constant aggression, proving he belongs with the best flyweight mixed martial artists on the planet.
Wakamatsu spoke about Nakatani’s incredible mental fortitude:
“He has a very strong heart. I fought him, and I felt that personally. His resolve, what his heart has prepared for, is a lot stronger than the average fighter.”
Wakamatsu: ‘I Just Want The Belt’
With his big win at ONE Fight Night 26, Yuya Wakamatsu might have punched his ticket to a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.
Following the retirement of former titleholder Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson earlier this year, that belt is now up for grabs, and there’s no shortage of hungry contenders.
As the division’s #2-ranked contender, Wakamatsu thinks he’s up next:
“I want the ONE Championship belt. ONE Championship is the place where strong people, strong athletes assemble. And for my next opponent, it can be anyone. I just want the belt for this moment of time.”
As for the other half of that potential World Title fight, perhaps the most obvious opponent is #1-ranked contender, former foe, and former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes.
In 2022, Wakamatsu challenged the then-reigning titleholder for 26 pounds of gold, suffering a third-round submission loss.
If that rematch happens, Wakamatsu is confident that things will not only go his way – but that he will finish the Brazilian superstar:
“I will believe in myself, keep pressing forward, and knock him out.”
