Ayaka Miura Targets A World Title Shot With Win Over Chihiro Sawada At ONE SAMURAI 1
Ayaka “Zombie” Miura started martial arts late, has never been naturally athletic by her own admission, and has never finished first at anything. She is now one submission away from a shot at the ONE Atomweight MMA World Title.
The 35-year-old faces fellow Japanese fighter Chihiro Sawada in an all-Japan atomweight MMA showdown at ONE SAMURAI 1 on Wednesday, April 29, live from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena. A decisive win puts Miura in line to challenge reigning ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga. She arrives carrying a 16-5 record and a five-fight winning streak, four of those endings by submission.
The chance to compete in front of a home crowd, at ONE SAMURAI 1’s inaugural event, is not lost on her.
“I’m really happy Japanese fans can see me in person,” Miura said. “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.”
For Miura, the occasion goes beyond personal ambition. The judo black belt sees the platform as a chance to represent Japanese martial arts values on a global stage.
“Bushido is the traditional Japanese spirit. Since I’ve practiced judo for a long time, I’ve been exposed to a lot of that discipline and respect,” she said. “Through ONE SAMURAI, I hope people see how strong Japanese fighters are and how exciting their fights can be.”
Sawada, 28, arrives on a three-fight winning streak of her own, having beaten Macarena Aragon, Itsuki Hirata, and Natalie Salcedo in succession. She is a well-rounded grappler with a wrestling base and growing striking, and Miura has studied her carefully.
“I think Sawada is a very well-rounded fighter. She has a wrestling base and builds her MMA around that strength, and she’s very strong physically,” Miura said. “I believe I’m more persistent than her, so even if she comes aggressively at the start, my strength is that I never give up.”
Her finishing arsenal is wider than opponents anticipate. The “Ayaka Lock” — a kesa-gatame scarf-hold that has become her signature — is only one piece of it.
“My ‘Ayaka Lock’ works on anyone. But I don’t rely only on that. I have many techniques, and I can finish in many ways,” she said. “I’ve also finished with knee bars. I just haven’t shown many of my techniques in fights yet, but I have a wide range of ways to finish.”
The title shot she has chased her entire career is one win away.
“I’m not naturally athletic, and I’ve never been number one at anything, so becoming number one has always been my goal,” Miura said. “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.”
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