Chihiro Sawada stepped into ONE SAMURAI 1 aiming to make a significant impact. She left the event victorious, with a world title opportunity now on the horizon.
The 28-year-old secured a win over seasoned fighter Ayaka Miura, executing a first-round armbar at 4:33 during their atomweight MMA match at ONE SAMURAI 1, held at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on April 29.
This impressive victory has earned the AACC martial artist a chance to compete against Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga, the current ONE women’s atomweight MMA world champion.
In a conversation with Nick Atkin, facilitated by a translator, the Japanese athlete shared her thoughts on this pivotal achievement in her career.
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“First of all, she’s very, very happy with the result and all the rewards she got from the company,” Sawada said. “From now on, she just needs to get ready for the title fight.”
Check out her full interview with Nick Atkin below:
Throughout her time with the world’s leading martial arts organization, the Japanese star, who is a former Shooto Atomweight champion, has achieved a 7-1 record.
Her sole loss was to Chinese competitor Meng Bo at ONE Fight Night 27 in January last year.
Chihiro Sawada’s quest for atomweight MMA gold could reshape the division’s title landscape
This mindset shift is exactly what transforms emerging contenders into world champions.
Chihiro Sawada has capitalized on her ONE SAMURAI 1 victory and swiftly redirected her focus to what’s ahead — a singular ambition that accelerates a fighter toward dominance in the division.
Denice Zamboanga is a formidable competitor, with a world championship history founded on technical skill and determination.
However, a wrestling-based opponent like Sawada, with her grappling expertise, momentum, and support from her home country, presents a unique challenge that the Filipino champion has yet to face.
The atomweight MMA division in the organization just gained its most thrilling storyline in years. Fans should anticipate an epic striker vs. grappler showdown when these two meet in the near future.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for any updates on ONE Championship.
Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein
