ONE Fight Night 26: “Where strong athletes assemble” - Yuya Wakamatsu says ONE is the perfect place to test yourself against the best

Yuya Wakamatsu is focused on becoming the ONE flyweight MMA world champion.

At ONE Fight Night 26, Wakamatsu welcomed promotional newcomer Gilbert Nakatani. The number two-ranked flyweight MMA contender weathered an early storm before taking control of the matchup and utilizing his experience advantage.

Despite absorbing considerable damage, Nakatani showcased his warrior spirit and refused to lose inside the distance. Following the final round, Wakamtasu emerged victorious by unanimous decision.

During his post-fight press conference, Wakamatsu had this to say about his winning performance against Nakatani:

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"So I want the ONE Championship belt. ONE Championship is the place where strong people and strong athletes assemble."

Yuya Wakamatsu's latest win at ONE Fight Night 26 extended his streak to three fights. The Japanese flyweight contender is riding high on momentum after defeating Xie Wei, Danny Kingad, and Gilbert Nakatani.

ONE Fight Night 26 can be re-watched by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Should Yuya Wakamatsu fight for the vacant ONE flyweight MMA world title?

Earlier this year, Demetrious Johnson vacated the ONE flyweight MMA world title by announcing his retirement from the sport.

At ONE 169, former eight-time world champion Adriano Moraes submitted Danny Kingad, strengthening his argument for the vacant title fight. The question is, who should the Brazilian superstar fight in the first half of 2025?

The two most likely options to fight Moraes are Yuya Wakamatsu and Reece McLaren. As mentioned, Wakamatsu is riding a three-fight winning streak as the number two-ranked flyweight.

Meanwhile, McLaren also fought at ONE Fight Night 26, defeating interim strawweight MMA champion Jarred Brooks by split decision. McLaren is a longtime contender in the division, and he's now coming off wins against Hu Yong and Brooks.

A primary difference between Wakamatsu and McLaren is their experience fighting Moraes. McLaren has never fought the former world champion, while Wakamatsu holds a loss against him from March 2022 (third-round submission).

Wakamatsu and McLaren are both understandable options for the ONE vacant flyweight MMA world title. Assuming Moraes will receive the opportunity, Wakamatsu should face him in a rematch due to his higher ranking.

About the author

Jake Foley is a journalist at Sportskeeda, specializing in covering all forms of combat sports, including MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. His passion is ignited by the exceptional fusion of physical and mental skills demanded by world-class fighters in these sports. Jake is captivated by the intricate mix of fierce determination and a modest mindset exhibited by athletes in these disciplines. He also finds the atmosphere of major championships, like the epic clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, truly unparalleled.

Jake has earned his UFC credentials to cover the major events for Sportskeeda and has conducted several interviews.

Jake supports various teams across several professional sports, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Inter Miami, Norwich City, Miami Marlins, and Las Vegas Golden Knights. The sports moment Jake will never forget is Jon Jones dismantling Vladimir Matyushenko.

Since joining the SportsKeeda team, Jake has written 400 articles covering several MMA promotions, including the UFC and ONE Championship. He continues to work hard to maintain his journalistic integrity and tell the stories of fighters worldwide.

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Edited by Jigyanshushri Mahanta