"Never let your guard down" - Yuya Wakamatsu admits heeding caution against Gilbert Nakatani

Second-ranked ONE flyweight MMA competitor Yuya Wakamatsu enjoys fighting fire with fire, but he has always made it a point never to underestimate an opponent, regardless of whether they are a longtime veteran or a promotional newcomer.

Speaking with ONE, 'Little Piranha' bared his thoughts about his upcoming flyweight MMA bout with ONE debutant Gilbert Nakatani at ONE Fight Night 26 on Friday, Dec. 6:

"This applies to every opponent, but it's important to never let your guard down. He'll be looking for a finish in every aspect, and so will I. The key is to find balance and not get reckless. He has a strong right hand and plenty of power, so I need to make sure I don't lose in those areas."

Gifted with exemplary boxing abilities and the footwork to match it, the Japanese standout has consistently been among the most exciting fighters in the 135-pound MMA division.

But because of Nakatani's high-level wrestling and devastating punching power, Wakamatsu and his team at Tribe Tokyo MMA will need to devise a watertight strategy against the American if he hopes to emerge victorious.

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Reece McLaren expects Yuya Wakamatsu to win at ONE Fight Night 26

Fourth-ranked ONE flyweight MMA athlete Reece McLaren is confident that Yuya Wakamatsu's commitment to his craft will ultimately give him the edge over Gilbert Nakatani inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, 'Lightning' mentioned:

"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 air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.