Lito Adiwang gets a new test at ONE Fight Night 45 as Antonio Cesar replaces injured Perreira

Lito Adiwang faces Antonio “The Flash” Cesar in a flyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, July 17. Cesar steps in as a replacement for Joshua Perreira. The card is headlined by a featherweight Muay Thai bout between Luke Lessei and Mohamed Younes Rabah.

Adiwang has made his move to flyweight look straightforward. His debut in the division at ONE Fight Night 37 in November produced a first-round TKO of Mauro Mastromarini. He followed that at ONE Fight Night 43 in May by stopping Eko Roni Saputra in 34 seconds. Eighteen career victories and a 75 percent finishing rate have backed up every claim he has made about belonging in this weight class.

A third consecutive win on July 17 would position him as a serious contender. It would extend his momentum that has looked unstoppable since his move to 135 pounds.

Lito Adiwang meets an unbeaten Brazilian

Lito Adiwang will not receive an easy entry into the second half of his flyweight campaign. Antonio Cesar arrives undefeated across eight consecutive wins. He has back-to-back rear-naked choke submissions in 2026 as the most recent evidence of his finishing ability.

The 22-year-old Brazilian makes his ONE Championship debut directly against a veteran who has been through the highest levels of the division. A win over Adiwang would transform Cesar from a promising newcomer into an overnight contender.

For Adiwang, the danger is real and the opportunity is equally significant. Three straight first-round finishes against credible opposition would make the case for a major flyweight matchup that he has been building toward since the move up in weight.