'Little Piranha' won't let 'Gravity' hold him down in Manila

Japanese mixed martial arts talent Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu is ready to bounce back from a painful defeat in his backyard when he returns at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on Friday, 2 August.

The Tribe Tokyo MMA representative pointed to his loss against Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson on 31 March as a turning point in his career, ahead of his showdown against Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio in Manila, Philippines.

“It was in Japan, so a lot was expected of me, and I was a bit scared that I’d lose quickly,” he said. “That was the scariest thing for me. I wanted to win and leave a statement.”

Wakamatsu admitted that he felt the pressure, but the second-round submission defeat made him realize that he can compete against the world’s best talents in ONE Championship.

With pride in his voice, the Pancrase Flyweight Tournament Champion added that it also gave him a new level of confidence – something he will unleash this coming Friday.

“Right after the match, I realized that I can compete on a world-class level, and I know it’s not an easy world,” the Kagoshima native said.

“I noticed that what I’ve been doing has raised me to a higher level all around – my conditioning, mental strength, and skills have given me confidence.”

“I had no idea if I could compete at a world-class level before, but [that bout] gave me the confidence to realize I could.”

Should he defeat “Gravity” in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix reserve match in Manila, Philippines, Wakamatsu will be on the waiting line for the tournament final should an athlete withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances.

The chance of a return in the tournament final excites him, but he promised the fans that they will be in for an even more exciting evening inside the Mall of Asia Arena.

Wakamatsu certainly has firepower in his fists with nine of his 10 victories coming by way of knockout.

“The fans can expect to see what I’m known for – knockout finishes. I want to show them not just my hands, but my kicks, takedowns, and other techniques.”

“I need a win to stay alive. I’ve absorbed everything from my losses and have become stronger. I want to show everyone a strong comeback.”