“I felt like I survived” - Yuya Wakamatsu was overcome with relief after finally winning the flyweight MMA world title

Yuya Wakamatsu's journey to championship gold carried the weight of desperation, not just ambition.

The reigning ONE flyweight MMA world champion makes his first world title defense at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri inside Tokyo's Ariake Arena on Sunday, November 16.

Looking to cut 'Little Piranha's' reign short as the flyweight king is none other than ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua Pacio, who attempts to gain two-sport world champion status in the Japanese capital city.

In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) ahead of their all-champion showdown, the 30-year-old Tribe Tokyo MMA warrior reflected on the emotional aftermath of capturing the vacant flyweight crown. The Japanese star secured first-round TKO of former kingpin Adriano Moraes at ONE 172 in Japan this past March.

When asked if winning the title felt like the result of years of hard work and what he deserved, Wakamatsu's response revealed the psychological pressure he carried into that championship moment.

"Yes, absolutely. I was kind of feeling like if I couldn't get the title at that point, it's the end of my career. So it made me calm down and relieved, and also I felt like I survived," Yuya Wakamatsu told SCMP.

Watch his full interview with SCMP below:

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Yuya Wakamatsu faces new pressure defending title on home soil

While Yuya Wakamatsu felt relief after capturing world championship gold, defending that crown against Joshua Pacio introduces a different kind of pressure.

The 29-year-old Pacio, who seeks to become the first Filipino two-division MMA world champion in history, brings years of championship experience and has proven time and again his ability to rise to the occasion in high-stakes battles.

Fans can expect a stylistic matchup between two elite all-around talents who excel at capitalizing on opponents' mistakes, promising a tactical chess match where patience and timing determine the outcome rather than volume and aggression.

Wakamatsu has a lot on the line, but based on what he has to say, the hometown hero appears to be calm and confident heading into his first assignment as the divisional king.

Could Wakamatsu prove his world title win was just the beginning of his championship reign, or will Pacio's experience force the Japanese warrior off the throne?

Fight fans eager to catch ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri from their region can purchase their PPV passes at live.onefc.com.