Yuya Wakamatsu News

Yuya Wakamatsu
Yuya Wakamatsu

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. 

Demetrious Johnson
ONE Championship

ONE: A New Era Results | Demetrious Johnson survives early adversity to submit Yuya Wakamatsu (video)

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.

Yuya Wakamatsu, Demetrious Johnson
Exclusive MMA Interviews

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 Championship, A New Era, Aung La N Sang, Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson, Angela Lee, Shinya Aoki, Ken Hasegawa, Eduard Folayang, Xiong Jing Nan
Bibiano Fernandes

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.