ONE Samurai 1: Wakamatsu vs Kholmirzaev Flyweight Title Fight
Wakamatsu vs Kholmirzaev opens a new chapter for ONE Championship in Japan
Relive the complete flyweight MMA world title fight between Yuya Wakamatsu and Avazbek Kholmirzaev at ONE Samurai 1.
The championship bout was one of the centrepieces of ONE Championship’s return to Tokyo and the first event in its new Samurai series. Wakamatsu entered Ariake Arena carrying Japanese hopes and the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship. Kholmirzaev arrived from Uzbekistan with a reputation for finishing fights and no interest in letting the moment become a homecoming celebration for the champion.
What followed was fast, physical and messy in the best possible way. Both men were willing to exchange on the feet, wrestle through awkward positions and attack whenever a small opening appeared. It never settled into the measured five-round title fight Wakamatsu may have expected.
Yuya Wakamatsu and Avazbek Kholmirzaev trade control early
The opening round showed why the matchup was more complicated than a simple striker-versus-grappler story. Wakamatsu pushed forward with his usual speed and sharp combinations, but Kholmirzaev was comfortable turning striking exchanges into takedowns and scrambles.
Wakamatsu found success with grounded knees after defending an early attempt, yet the challenger did not stay underneath him for long. Kholmirzaev reversed the position with a powerful throw and began working from the top, mixing control, short strikes and submission threats.
Neither fighter could hold the advantage for very long. Wakamatsu’s urgency kept creating escapes and counterattacks, while Kholmirzaev’s physical strength allowed him to drag the fight back into uncomfortable positions. The pace was unusually high for the first five minutes of a world championship contest.
By the end of the round, it was already clear that this would not be a patient tactical battle. Both men had spent energy, absorbed damage and revealed that they were willing to take risks rather than give the other time to settle.
A spinning back elbow changes the ONE flyweight division
Wakamatsu came forward aggressively again in the second round, trying to regain control with punching combinations. Kholmirzaev remained calm under pressure and continued looking for ways to connect his striking with his wrestling.
The challenger scored another takedown and briefly threatened from a strong crucifix position. Wakamatsu escaped, defended further attempts and forced the action back into close range. For a moment, it looked as though the champion had survived the most dangerous part of the exchange.
Then the fight ended without warning.
After taking an elbow from Wakamatsu at close distance, Kholmirzaev immediately spun back in the opposite direction. His spinning back elbow landed clean and knocked the Japanese champion unconscious with only seven seconds remaining in the second round.
The finish gave Kholmirzaev the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship and made him the first Uzbek fighter to win a ONE world title. It was a dramatic ending to a fight that had already tested both men across striking, wrestling and grappling exchanges.
For Wakamatsu, the defeat ended his title reign in front of a home crowd. For Kholmirzaev, it turned his first championship opportunity into the defining moment of his career.
What is the new ONE Samurai event series?
ONE Championship introduced ONE Samurai as a regular event series built specifically around the Japanese martial arts market. The cards combine MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing and submission grappling rather than limiting each event to a single combat sport.
The plan also gives established Japanese champions and international stars a place alongside younger domestic fighters who are still building their names. ONE Samurai 1 immediately showed that format with multiple world title bouts, major kickboxing contests and a strong group of Japanese MMA prospects.
Fans can also watch the final preparations in the ONE Samurai 1 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs, featuring the fighters meeting on stage before the inaugural Tokyo event.
Sawada, Miura and Yamakita add depth to ONE Samurai 1
The event was not only about the four world title fights. Chihiro Sawada faced Ayaka Miura in an important women’s atomweight MMA contest.
Miura attempted to force the fight into her preferred grappling exchanges, but Sawada stayed composed and eventually isolated an arm during a scramble. Her first-round armbar victory moved her closer to the ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Championship and produced one of the strongest performances on the card.
Keito Yamakita also continued his rise in the strawweight division. His relentless takedowns and ground control led to a second-round armbar victory, keeping him in the developing championship picture.
Yamakita now moves directly into ONE Samurai 2, where he meets promotional newcomer Koyuru Tanoue. The confirmed Yamakita vs Tanoue matchup continues the series’ focus on Japanese MMA talent while giving Tanoue an immediate test against an established ONE contender.
ONE Samurai 1 began with the promise of building something more permanent in Japan. Kholmirzaev’s spinning elbow ensured that its first MMA world title fight would not be remembered simply as a ceremonial launch. It gave the new series its first major upset, its first new champion and a finish that will remain part of ONE Championship highlights for years.
