Last Friday in U.S. primetime, came out on top after a 15-minute slugfest with American standout in their flyweight MMA clash at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
That hard-fought victory at extended the Japanese star¡¯s winning streak to three and further entrenched him as the division¡¯s #2-ranked contender.
Wakamatsu was certainly pleased to get his hand raised against a dangerous and aggressive opponent, but he admitted that an early inadvertent blow to the back of his head threw him off for much of the fight.
¡°Little Piranha¡± told :
¡°The fact that I won this fight, I¡¯m happy about that. But also, I got hit in the first round to the back of the head, so I don¡¯t remember much.
¡°As a martial artist, I didn¡¯t do a very good job, but the fact that I won, that¡¯s good. The result is good.¡±
The 29-year-old veteran came into his showdown with Nakatani in top form and was feeling great until absorbing the blow.
After that, he said, he was fighting on pure instincts:
¡°I believe that I was in prime condition until the moment that I got hit on the back of my head. Until that, I was in my prime condition. But after getting hit in the back of my head, I couldn¡¯t remember much.¡±
Still, Wakamatsu was quick to give Nakatani plenty of credit for his gritty display of heart and toughness.
The debuting American took some of ¡°Little Piranha¡¯s¡± biggest shots and never waivered in his constant aggression, proving he belongs with the best flyweight mixed martial artists on the planet.
Wakamatsu spoke about Nakatani¡¯s incredible mental fortitude:
¡°He has a very strong heart. I fought him, and I felt that personally. His resolve, what his heart has prepared for, is a lot stronger than the average fighter.¡±
Wakamatsu: ¡®I Just Want The Belt¡¯
With his big win at ONE Fight Night 26, Yuya Wakamatsu might have punched his ticket to a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title.
Following the retirement of former titleholder earlier this year, that belt is now up for grabs, and there¡¯s no shortage of hungry contenders.
As the division¡¯s #2-ranked contender, Wakamatsu thinks he¡¯s up next:
¡°I want the ONE Championship belt. ONE Championship is the place where strong people, strong athletes assemble. And for my next opponent, it can be anyone. I just want the belt for this moment of time.¡±
As for the other half of that potential World Title fight, perhaps the most obvious opponent is #1-ranked contender, former foe, and former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion .
In 2022, Wakamatsu challenged the then-reigning titleholder for 26 pounds of gold, suffering a third-round submission loss.
If that rematch happens, Wakamatsu is confident that things will not only go his way ¨C but that he will finish the Brazilian superstar:
¡°I will believe in myself, keep pressing forward, and knock him out.¡±
