Yuya Wakamatsu News
Yuya Wakamatsu embraces do-or-die mentality: "I'll fight as if it's my last"
BJPENN.COM Staff - October 7, 2025
For Yuya Wakamatsu, defending his ONE Flyweight MMA World Title carries stakes that transcend sport — failure simply isn’t survivable in his mind. Wakamatsu defends his strap against Joshua Pacio at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter makes his first title defense against the reigning strawweight king in a rare champion-versus-champion clash.
Yuya Wakamatsu predicts "an intense battle" against Joshua Pacio at ONE 173
BJPENN.COM Staff - August 11, 2025
Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to mark his first title defense. The flyweight king faces an extraordinary challenge when strawweight titleholder Joshua Pacio moves up in weight. Wakamatsu defends his ONE Flyweight MMA World Title against Pacio at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 30-year-old champion makes his first defense in a rare champion-versus-champion clash on home soil.
Yuya Wakamatsu calls out Alexandre Pantoja for cross-promotion bout
BJPENN.COM Staff - June 26, 2025
ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu is scouting for viable contenders to his gold – both in and outside of ONE Championship. “Little Piranha” appeared at this week’s press conference in Tokyo for ONE 173, all but confirming him featuring at the event on Sunday, November 16, inside Tokyo, Japan’s Ariake Arena.
Yuya Wakamatsu reveals biggest test wasn't Adriano Moraes: "The enemy is in yourself"
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.
Yuya Wakamatsu reflects on previous loss to Adriano Moraes ahead of ONE 172 world title rematch
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.
Adriano Moraes predicts "legendary win" in ONE flyweight world title fight at ONE 172
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.
Adriano Moraes versus Yuya Wakamatsu II booked for ONE 172
BJPENN.COM Staff - December 18, 2024
At ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang, the coveted ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship will finally find a new home. Former divisional king Demetrious Johnson retired this past September at ONE 168. Now the gold will return to former king Adriano Moraes or leave with #2-ranked contender Yuya Wakamatsu. The two clash on Sunday, March 23, 2025, inside Tokyo, Japan’s iconic Saitama Super Arena.
Yuya Wakamatsu wants shot at vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title
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.
EXCLUSIVE | After first staredown, Yuya Wakamatsu believes Demetrious Johnson is 'intimidated'
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.
ONE: A New Era in Tokyo is absolutely stacked
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.
EXCLUSIVE | Meet Yuya Wakamatsu: the knockout artist tasked with welcoming Demetrious Johnson to ONE
Thomas Taylor - January 4, 2019
Yuya Wakamatsu couldn’t believe what he was hearing when he was offered the opportunity to welcome Demetrious Johnson, the former UFC flyweight champion and one of the best fighters ever, to the ONE Championship cage. Wakamatsu has competed just once for ONE Championship so far and came up short in his debut effort, losing a decision to Danny Kingad. As such, he didn’t expect to receive this kind of offer so soon. Nonetheless, this was an opportunity he’d been dreaming of for years, and one he simply couldn’t turn down.