Former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Yuya Wakamatsu steps into ONE SAMURAI 3 with only one thing in mind: reminding the division exactly who he is.
The Japanese star faces South African slugger Willie van Rooyen in a flyweight MMA showdown on the card inside Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday, September 12.
This contest represents Wakamatsu’s first outing since losing his 26 pounds of gold via a second-round KO defeat to Avazbek Kholmirzaev at ONE SAMURAI 1 back in April.
With that setback in mind, the 31-year-old has been laser-focused on unleashing an entirely new version of himself in this contest. He has grown tired of being predictable, and the fanbase watching him step through the ropes at Yokohama Buntai should be prepared for a genuinely different fighter.
He broke down exactly what he intends to unleash at ONE SAMURAI 3:
“I want to look like a completely different animal compared to my last fight. You have this incredibly talented, hungry young fighter going up against a veteran like me who’s fighting with his back against the wall. I absolutely refuse to lose.”
Behind Wakamatsu’s fresh stylistic reinvention sits the deepest kind of motivation any dethroned world champion can carry.
The Japanese star has poured every ounce of his identity into reclaiming the gold Kholmirzaev ripped away from him, and the pursuit has consumed every moment of his life since that unfortunate night in April.
As such, failure is simply not an option for the former divisional king. Wakamatsu pointed out:
“I am completely obsessed with getting that ONE belt back. I want to wrap that belt around my waist again, and I’ve decided to push myself to the absolute physical limits of what I can do.”
Willie van Rooyen chasing a statement, eyes redemption against Kholmirzaev
Meanwhile, Willie van Rooyen has zero interest in a slow-burn contest. The South African destroyer promises absolute fireworks from the opening bell.
The 23-year-old has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and highlight-reel violence, and he sees his showdown with Wakamatsu as the perfect stage for the kind of contest that leaves fans on their feet. He shared:
“I think both of our styles are very exciting. There’s almost nonstop action all the time. That’s what the crowd wants to see. It’s going to be fast-paced and full of action.”
The stakes stretch far beyond just an entertaining outing for van Rooyen. A statement performance over the former world champion could immediately catapult him into the world title conversation.
After all, he already has some unfinished business with the man currently holding the gold. Van Rooyen debuted in the promotion against Kholmirzaev in November 2025, but suffered a first-round submission loss.
He has been chasing another crack at the Uzbek destroyer ever since, and beating Wakamatsu in Yokohama is exactly the kind of performance that would place him in the running for a rematch against the reigning flyweight MMA king. He added:
“If I can compete with Yuya, I know I have the opportunity to fight Avazbek again for the belt. I’m definitely looking forward to that rematch. I couldn’t really showcase myself against Avazbek in the first fight, but I think the next time we meet, it’s going to be a completely different fight.”