"This will be a great opportunity" - Yuya Wakamatsu on his chance to take out legendary flyweight Adriano Moraes

ONE flyweight MMA mainstay Yuya Wakamatsu will have another chance to win the currently vacant ONE flyweight MMA world championship at ONE 172 on March 23, 2025, inside the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

His opponent will be former 135-pound MMA king Adriano Moraes — the only fighter to have knocked out now-retired MMA great and former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Demetrious Johnson.

During the ONE 172 press conference, 'Little Piranha' announced his intent to ascend to the throne at Moraes' expense:

"Yes, Adriano Moraes is the only fighter who has ever knocked out DJ, so I want to do that on the biggest stage of all and become a champion. I think this will be a great opportunity to let the people know that the number one flyweight [in ONE] is the best in the world."

Wakamatsu knows what to expect from 'Mikinho' in their upcoming world title clash as he once challenged the Brazilian great for 26 pounds of flyweight MMA gold at ONE X in March 2022.

The Tribe Tokyo MMA put on a strong showing against Moraes, but the 36-year-old retained the flyweight MMA crown via submission midway through the third round.

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Yuya Wakamatsu eyeing to finish Adriano Moraes

Yuya Wakamatsu watched Adriano Moraes claim his second win over Filipino rival Danny Kingad at ONE 169 this past November, but he believes he can do what 'The King' could not.

Before he handed ONE debutant Gilbert Nakatani a rude welcome to the world's largest martial arts promotion at ONE Fight Night 26 on Dec. 7, the second-ranked ONE flyweight MMA competitor told the promotion in an exclusive interview:

"The fact that Moraes managed to win [over Kingad] was truly impressive. That said, I'm confident I can surpass that and finish him myself."