For Yuya Wakamatsu, defending his one flyweight MMA world title carries stakes that transcend sport – failure is simply not survivable in his mind.
Wakamatsu defends his belt against Joshua Pacio One 173: Superbon vs. noiri on Sunday, November 16, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter makes his first title defense against the reigning stromweight king in a rare champion-versus-champ clash.
Most hunters treat championships as career milestones. Wakamatsu treats are such oxygen – absolutely essential for survival. That extreme mentality took him through crushing defeats against legends like Demetrious Johnson and Adriano Moraes before finally breaking through.
His victory in March over Moraes validated 172 years of sacrifice. The first round TKO at Saitama Super Arena gave Japan a new flyweight king while erasing memories of their 2022 encounter that ended in submission defeat. Everything clicked perfectly that night when stakes mattered most.
The reality still feels surreal months later. Wakamatsu sometimes forgets that he is wearing gold until someone reminds him. But that mental disconnect does not soften his approach. He goes into any fight willing to die rather than lose what he spent his life pursuing.
“I want to prove someone’s flyweight [division] is the best in the world. That’s why I absolutely can’t lose. For me, losing is basically equal to death. I will fight like it is my last,” he said.
“I want to inspire fans with courage and hope. I want to put my entire way of life into those 25 minutes.”
Yuya Wakamatsu looks at championship as a platform for inspiration
Gold means more than personal glory to Yuya Wakamatsu. The Tokyo MMA product sees his championship as fuel for others chasing impossible dreams.
Japanese martial arts culture demands excellence while celebrating warriors who give their all in the ring. Wakamatsu embodies that spirit through his ruthless approach. His journey from struggling contender to champion proves that dedication ultimately overcomes talent gaps and unfortunate timing.
Joshua Pacio poses legitimate danger to Tokyo. The Filipino star is looking to make history as his country’s first two-division MMA champion after years of dominating strawweight competition. He captured that throne multiple times and always bounced back from devastating setbacks with championship-level performances.
“Everything just came together at the March event. I was at my peak and I captured the title at that moment. It was truly the best moment of my life. The biggest change is that I now hold the title of champion. I also gained confidence. One of my dreams came true and I feel like I have started a new chapter,” he said.
“Sometimes I just think, ‘Oh yeah, I’m the champ.’ ‘I forget that I am the champion. But my mentality hasn’t really changed. So in the end, all I can do is fight with everything I have.
“When people see me giving it my all in the fight and think, ‘Wow, that’s great. I want to try it too. I can do it too,’ then honestly, that’s enough for me.
“I know he will come at me to risk everything, and I want to show the fans a real war.”
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