"I really learned how to believe in myself" - Gilbert Nakatani shares difficult childhood that shaped his personality

Flyweight MMA rising star Gilbert Nakatani is unfazed by the fact that his ONE Championship debut will be against second-ranked ONE flyweight MMA competitor Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE Fight Night 26 on Dec. 6, owing to the hardships he faced as a child. In a recent interview with ONE, Nakatani opened up about how his difficult childhood molded him into the fighter he is today:

"I feel like my childhood was kind of a blur. It wasn't the easiest upbringing. I feel like I really learned how to believe in myself, you know? I pushed myself in high school, playing sports, wrestling. Not having my parents there to cheer me on or take me to practice or tell me to do this and do that, it really made me become individually strong. It's a hard subject to talk about for me, but it's part of my ubringing."

'Little Piranha' is a tough opponent for anyone in ONE's 135-pound MMA division. In seven wins, he holds three first round finishes on his record.

However, Nakatani is a respected finisher in his own right. The American earned four knockouts and two submissions in eight wins in the regional scene. These performances eventually led to him signing with the world's largest martial arts promotion.

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Reece McLaren picks winner between Gilbert Nakatani and Yuya Wakamatsu

ONE flyweight MMA mainstay Reece McLaren expects Yuya Wakamatsu to spoil Gilbert Nakatani's promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 26.

'Lightning' explained why in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA:

"I think Yuya will win that. I think out of all of us, he's one of the more well-improved. I think he had lots of room to improve, and he's made those improvements. Man, Yuya has impressed me."

ONE Fight Night 26 will occur inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The entire event will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.