ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship On The Line With High Level Rematch At ONE 172!
The ONE Championship flyweight division has seen its fair share of drama in recent years. From Demetrious Johnson’s arrival to championship victory and dominance, the 135-pound weight class has consistently delivered memorable moments. The division’s title picture was thrown into chaos when Johnson vacated the belt in late 2024 to focus on special attraction bouts.
This created a golden opportunity for the other top contenders to stake their claim to the throne. Now, the vacant championship will find a new home when two familiar foes meet in a high-stakes rematch.
ONE Championship returns to Japan on March 23 with a stacked ONE 172 card at the legendary Saitama Super Arena. While the main event features a dream striking match between Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa, the co-main event carries massive importance for the flyweight division.
Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes brings an impressive 21-5 professional record into this championship bout. The Brazilian submission specialist has been a mainstay of ONE Championship’s flyweight division for nearly a decade, holding the title multiple times. His technical grappling skills make him one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the organization. He has 11 of his 21 wins coming by submission. Moraes holds notable victories over Demetrious Johnson, Geje Eustaquio, and of course, Yuya Wakamatsu.
Former champion Adriano Moraes will face Japan’s own Yuya Wakamatsu for the vacant ONE flyweight MMA world title in a rematch three years in the making. The first meeting ended with Moraes submitting Wakamatsu via guillotine choke at ONE X in March 2022. However, the Japanese star has improved significantly since then.
Adriano Moraes’ Stats
In recent outings, Moraes has shown a more well-rounded game. He defeated Danny Kingad via guillotine choke at ONE 169 last year, proving his submission game remains elite. At 36 years old, Moraes has the experience edge but knows his championship window won’t stay open forever.
Yuya Wakamatsu Stats
Yuya Wakamatsu enters this championship bout with a 18-6 professional record and the number two ranking in the division. The Japanese standout lives up to his “Little Piranha” nickname with an aggressive fighting style focused on power striking. 12 of his 18 victories have come by knockout or TKO, showcasing the devastating power in his hands. Since his 2022 loss to Moraes, Wakamatsu has significantly improved his takedown defense and overall MMA game.
Fighting in his home country adds extra motivation for Wakamatsu, who has a chance to become Japan’s newest MMA world champion. At just 30 years old, Wakamatsu is entering his athletic prime and believes the timing is perfect for his championship moment.
Paths To Victory
For Moraes, victory likely comes through his world-class grappling. The Brazilian will want to weather Wakamatsu’s early storm, secure takedowns, and work toward his signature submissions. His guillotine choke has proven particularly effective throughout his career, including in their first meeting. Moraes also holds a significant reach advantage that he can use to keep Wakamatsu at bay until grappling opportunities emerge.
Wakamatsu’s path to victory centers around his explosive striking power. He needs to maintain distance, defend takedowns better than in their first meeting, and look for knockout opportunities. Fighting in front of his home crowd should provide an adrenaline boost, but he will need to harness that energy without becoming reckless. If he can keep the fight standing, those Japanese fans might witness their countryman claiming ONE Championship gold in spectacular fashion!
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Who Else Is Fighting On The ONE 172 Card?
Fight fans around the world are buzzing with excitement as ONE 172 approaches, bringing a stacked card to the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The promotion’s return to Saitama marks their fifth visit to Japan since early 2024, and they are certainly not holding back on the firepower.
A highly anticipated five-round flyweight kickboxing superfight between Rodtang Jitmuangnon, the former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and Takeru Segawa, a former three-division K-1 World Champion, is set to headline the event. The matchup was originally planned for ONE 165 in January 2024, but Rodtang was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.
The ONE 172 Undercard
The card boasts an impressive five title fights overall! Superlek Kiatmuu9 and Nabil Anane will battle for unified bantamweight Muay Thai gold. Their previous meeting was brief but violent, with Superlek scoring a first-round knockout at ONE Friday Fights 22. Anane’s taller frame didn’t help him then, but he’s earned his shot at redemption as the interim champion.
Tawanchai P.K.Saenchai faces former K-1 champion Masaaki Noiri for the interim featherweight kickboxing title in what could be a technical masterclass. Tawanchai already holds the Muay Thai crown in this division, showing his versatility by crossing over to pure kickboxing rules.
In the strawweight kickboxing division, two former champions clash as Sam-A Gaiyanghadao meets Jonathan Di Bella for interim gold. The women get their spotlight too! Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom defends her atomweight kickboxing crown against K-1 veteran Kana Morimoto. Phetjeeja’s meteoric rise in ONE has been nothing short of spectacular, but Morimoto presents a serious challenge with her technical precision.
Fans of MMA will enjoy the lightweight legend matchup between Shinya Aoki and Eduard Folayang. These two have history, with Folayang shocking Aoki with a knockout in 2016 to win gold, only for Aoki to exact revenge years later. Now in the twilight of their careers, they’ll write another chapter in their storied rivalry.
The card also features rising star Adrian Lee, younger brother of champions Angela and Christian Lee, as he faces Shozo Isojima. The Lee family legacy continues to grow in ONE Championship, with Adrian looking to follow in his siblings’ championship footsteps.
With kickboxing matchups like Marat Grigorian vs. Kaito Ono and John Lineker testing his striking against Hiroki Akimoto, this event delivers diverse martial arts action from top to bottom. ONE 172 isn’t just about one superfight, it’s a celebration of combat sports excellence across multiple disciplines!
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