Yuya Wakamatsu News

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 25, 2025

Newly minted ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu’s journey to the division’s pinnacle was more than physical. If anything, the mental aspect was a much tougher task. And he showed a whole new attitude at ONE 172. “Little Piranha” blew the roof off of Japan’s Saitama Super Arena this past Sunday, March 23. There, he knocked out former flyweight MMA kingpin Adriano Moraes in a rematch three years in the making. In doing so, he claimed the vacant throne inside one round in front of his hometown supporters.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 21, 2025

Second-ranked flyweight MMA contender Yuya Wakamatsu has spent the last three years working his way back to a World Title opportunity. Through blood, sweat, and tears, he’s now just days away from his second chance at gold. “Little Piranha” meets former divisional king Adriano Moraes for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title. This happens at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang, this Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 17, 2025

Second-ranked flyweight MMA star Yuya Wakamatsu has come a long way in ONE Championship. Arriving as a promising 22-year-old to a World Title challenger, he’s risen up the ranks to become a divisional stalwart, and he looks to make good on his second chance at gold.   The Japanese jouster meets #1-ranked flyweight MMA star Adriano Moraes in a rematch for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang this Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - March 5, 2025

Eight-time ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano Moraes is on the cusp of reaching another major milestone.   “Mikinho” vies for the flyweight division’s vacant crown when he meets #2-ranked contender Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang on Sunday, March 23, inside Japan’s Saitama Super Arena. 

BJPENN.COM Staff - December 11, 2024

It’s been over two years since #2-ranked flyweight MMA contender Yuya Wakamatsu last challenged for the gold. And now that he’s accumulated a strong three-fight winning streak, the Japanese jouster wants his punt at the vacant belt.   “Little Piranha” dominated newcomer Gilbert Nakatani this past Friday, December 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium at ONE Fight Night 26, strengthening his chance to vie for the weight bracket’s coveted prize. 

Tom Taylor - March 31, 2019

On Sunday night in Tokyo, Japan (early Sunday morning in North America), former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson made his anticipated debut in the ONE Championship cage at ONE: A New Era. The flyweight legend’s welcoming committee was Japanese knockout artist Yuya Wakamatsu. Both fighters entered the ONE Championship cage with losses in the rear-view mirror. Demetrious Johnson last competed in August, when he surrendered the UFC flyweight title to Henry Cejudo in a bout that would go down as his last in the Octagon. Yuya Wakamatsu, meanwhile, recently came up short in his ONE Championship debut, giving up a decision to the streaking Danny Kingad.

Tom Taylor - March 28, 2019

Yuya Wakamatsu is being counted out by almost everybody as he prepares to battle former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson this Sunday at ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan. However, the 24-year-old Japanese fighter feels that he has some crucial advantages heading into this matchup with the MMA legend. One such advantage is his size.

Tom Taylor - February 21, 2019

On March 31, Asian martial arts powerhouse ONE Championship will make its debut in the MMA hotbed of Tokyo, Japan with ONE: A New Era. This card, which will emanate from the hallowed Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall in the city’s Sumida ward, is absolutely stacked. The card will be topped by a whopping four ONE Championship title fights, including one champion-versus-champion showdown.