Yuya Wakamatsu has spent years grinding through the flyweight division, chasing the dream of becoming a ONE World Champion. Now at the summit, he is preparing for one of the most important moments of his career.
On November 16, the Japanese superstar will make his first ONE Flyweight MMA World Title defense against strawweight king Joshua Pacio taking place at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
In an exceptional World Champion versus World Champion convergence on home soil, Wakamatsu intends to seize the moment.
“When I first heard the match was confirmed, I honestly thought I’d be facing a different opponent. I never imagined it would be Joshua Pacio, the Strawweight Champion. I was really surprised, but at the same time, I’m truly honored and excited to share the [Circle] with him,” he said.
Even with Pacio moving up in weight, Wakamatsu refuses to take him lightly, who has followed the Filipino star’s career and respects his credentials.
After all, Pacio is among the most accomplished mixed martial artists on the planet, having captured the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship seven times.
Most recently, he defeated JarredBrooks at ONE 171: Qatar to close their trilogy and cement his status as the undisputed 125-pound king.
“Pacio has beaten some really strong fighters, so even though he’s coming up from a lower weight class, he’s not to be underestimated. I think he’s a Champion who represents ONE,” Wakamatsu admitted.
The 30-year-old knows this fight is about more than hanging onto the belt. It’s also about proving that his time at the top isn’t temporary.
Wakamatsu has always delivered action, as seen in his crowning moment at ONE 172, when he finished Adriano Moraes with a first-round ground-and-pound TKO to set the hometown crowd ablaze.
Now with the pressure of defending his strap at home against an elite challenger, Wakamatsu is bracing for a grueling battle – and that’s exactly the kind of war he welcomes.
“There’s absolutely no chance this will be a boring fight. If we both give it our all, it will naturally turn into an intense battle. I’m confident it will get the crowd fired up. I’m not out to knock someone out specifically; I just want to have a fight where I overcome myself.”
Wakamatsu believes winning the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title was the defining moment of his career, and it has given him a deeper drive.
This fight also carries meaning for his gym, TRIBE Tokyo MMA, a respected fixture in Japan’s martial arts scene. Wakamatsu sees ONE 173 as the perfect stage to raise the camp’s profile even more.
With a few months still to go, Wakamatsu is tightening every part of his game. He wants the fans in Ariake Arena to see him at his sharpest when fight night arrives.
“Belt or no belt, I always give it my all. There are strong fighters in other gyms too. But if we bring back two belts, I think it will solidify TRIBE as one of the top gyms in Japan. Let’s make it happen.” NLMonitor
