Ayaka Miura targets title shot with win over Chihiro Sawada at ONE SAMURAI 1

Ayaka “Zombie” Miura has spent years grinding toward a ONE World Title. On Wednesday, April 29, she gets her clearest shot yet at making that a reality. The 35-year-old submission specialist faces fellow Japanese fighter Chihiro Sawada in an atomweight MMA clash at ONE SAMURAI 1, live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with a title eliminator on the line.

Miura arrives carrying a 16-5 record and a five-fight winning streak, four of those wins by submission. Her scheduled title shot against Denice Zamboanga at ONE 173 last November fell apart when Zamboanga withdrew through illness. Sawada enters this all-Japan collision with three straight wins over Macarena Aragon, Itsuki Hirata, and Natalie Salcedo — equally hungry and equally dangerous.

For Miura, facing a Japanese opponent changes nothing about her approach.

“I usually fight overseas opponents, but this time it’s a Japanese vs. Japanese matchup. But nothing really changes. I’m going through fight week as usual,” she said.

“I’m really happy fans can see me in person. And since ONE SAMURAI will be held monthly, I think more people will get to watch and learn about me, so I’m really excited.”

Ayaka Miura aims to show her full arsenal against Sawada

Miura has built her reputation on the “Ayaka Lock” — a kesa-gatame scarf-hold that has produced finishes throughout her career. She sees Sawada as a well-rounded wrestler with genuine physical strength, but believes her own relentlessness is the decisive edge. She started martial arts late, built her game without natural athleticism, and has climbed to the edge of championship gold through sheer persistence. A decisive win over Sawada is all that stands between her and the title fight she has worked her whole career toward.

“It’s important to win decisively. I’ll win, and I truly believe the next fight will be for the title,” she said.

“I’m not naturally athletic, and I’ve never been number one at anything, so becoming number one has always been my goal. I started martial arts late, but through ONE Championship, I’ve made it this far. I want to win the belt and leave something behind.”