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When Yuya Wakamatsu professed that he would rather die than lose the ONE flyweight MMA world title, he wasn’t kidding.
It appeared ‘Little Piranha’ was on the verge of giving up his coveted crown to strawweight MMA kingpin Joshua Pacio in the early moments of their clash at ONE 173 last Sunday, November 16, at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Wakamatsu fearlessly dove in like he usually does and started on fire with his aggressive combinations.
But 'The Passion' was ready for him, and landed with a clean counterstrike early, testing the Japanese champion's chin.
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Wakamatsu buckled, and Pacio tried to finish it off early. The Filipino switched to a single-leg takedown and tried to impose his much-improved ground game.
The old Wakamatsu would have been toast right there and then. But this time, the 30-year-old showcased his true warrior spirit.
The Tribe Tokyo MMA affiliate brushed off the hard shot and reversed his fortune. He got back up and tagged Pacio with his ferocious hooks.
When the Lions Nation MMA affiliate tried to instigate another grappling exchange, Wakamatsu imposed his bigger frame and threw him down like a rag doll and battered him with violent strikes on the ground.
Pacio's own champion's resolve allowed him to survive, but Wakamatsu simply won't be denied in the ensuing round.
A wild striking exchange ensued, but the Japanese destroyer struck first with a thunderous right hand that shook Pacio to his core and dropped him face down onto the canvas.
Like his nickname suggests, 'Little Piranha' swarmed at the sight of blood and unleashed a brutal ensemble of ground strikes that left the referee no choice but to intervene.
Official result: Yuya Wakamatsu defeats Joshua Pacio via TKO at 0:54 of round two to retain the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship
Joshua Pacio entered this match-up hoping to become the Philippines' first-ever two-division MMA world champion.
While Yuya Wakamatsu holds the utmost respect for his fellow champion, he couldn't let that happen at his expense.
The Tribe Tokyo MMA affiliate displayed the Bushido spirit and its immense growth as a martial artist. `
This monumental victory over a formidable challenger like Pacio cements his status as the best 135-pound fighter on the planet and marks the beginning of a new era in the flyweight division.
