‘Defending My Home Turf’ – Yuya Wakamatsu Aims To Make World Title Case With Victory Over ONE Newcomer Gilbert Nakatani

Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu intends to score a statement-making victory and secure a shot at the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title on December 6 in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video.

The Japanese veteran is now in the final preparations for his MMA tilt against dangerous promotional newcomer Gilbert Nakatani at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Wakamatsu is a longstanding mainstay of the flyweight MMA division’s elite and will enter this contest on a two-fight winning streak that’s earned him the #2 spot in the divisional rankings – and has him knocking on the door of a World Title shot.

Following the retirement of former titleholder Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson earlier this year, the flyweight MMA throne is now vacant and up for grabs.

“Little Piranha” is well aware of the stakes at ONE Fight Night 26. He knows that a loss to the talented American would send him to the back of the line, where he’d have to begin his climb toward the gold again.

But he told onefc.com that he doesn’t feel extra pressure heading into his clash with Nakatani. Instead, he views it as an opportunity to prove that his six years of experience in the world’s largest martial arts organization have set him apart from the rest of the pack:

“It could be risky, depending on how you look at it. But I feel I have an advantage because of the experience I’ve gained competing in ONE. It’s like defending my home turf – I have a strong determination not to lose.”

Wakamatsu has carefully studied Nakatani and admits that he will pose a serious threat in all phases of combat.

With that in mind, he’s approaching their showdown with a healthy sense of caution and respect for his foe:

“This applies to every opponent, but it’s important to never let your guard down. He’ll be looking for a finish in every aspect, and so will I. The key is to find balance and not get reckless. He has a strong right hand and plenty of power, so I need to make sure I don’t lose in those areas.”

As one of the division’s most well-rounded athletes and a long-tenured veteran, it’s no surprise that Wakamatsu sees more than one path to victory.

However he wins – whether it’s by submission, knockout, or hard-fought decision – he vows to put on a crowd-pleasing performance in Bangkok:

“I have several scenarios in mind. I could go for a submission or a knockout with my punches. Whether it’s by decision or finish, I’m prepared for anything. If there’s a chance, I’ll aim for the finish – I don’t want to leave it up to the judges.

“Winning an uninteresting decision doesn’t mean much to me. From the first second to the last, I’ll be looking for a finish, as always. I also want to show how much I’ve evolved, especially over my last two fights.”

Wakamatsu: ‘I Can Knock Moraes Out’ In Potential Rematch

While he’s not looking past Gilbert Nakatani on December 6, Yuya Wakamatsu is ultimately focused on punching his ticket to a shot at 26 pounds of gold in the flyweight MMA division.

With no World Champion currently at the helm, he knows that any number of contenders could earn a World Title shot with an impressive enough performance.

“Little Piranha” is happy to face any one of them:

“I definitely want the ONE Championship belt. I don’t care who the opponent is – I just want a title fight and to wear that belt. If I win this fight, I’ll ask for a title shot. Whether it’s a rematch with [Adriano] Moraes or someone else, I’ll take on whoever ONE puts in front of me.”

Indeed, another clash with “Mikinho” could be on the table. Back in 2022, Wakamatsu came up short against the then-reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion.

And for his part, Moraes is fresh off a submission victory over Danny Kingad that solidified him as the #1-ranked contender.

Although Wakamatsu is eager to fight for the World Title against any opponent, he said that a potential rematch with the Brazilian superstar would go much differently than their first encounter:

“The fact that Moraes managed to win [over Kingad] was truly impressive. That said, I’m confident I can surpass that and finish him myself. Looking back, I’m a completely different fighter now compared to two years ago. I believe I can knock Moraes out.”