ONE Championship: Chihiro Sawada targets Denice Zamboanga title shot in Japan after submission win
The Japanese atomweight contender returned to winning ways with a first-round armbar submission of Argentina's Macarena Aragon last Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 33 in Bangkok.
It marked a strong response from the 27-year-old after her first professional loss – a decision defeat to China's Meng Bo in January – and she now has her eye on gold.
'My intention is the same – to go to that Japan card, ONE 173,' Sawada told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. 'I got the win and I want the chance to fight there too.'
ONE 173 is set for November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. But it remains to be seen whether Sawada will get her wish.
Ayaka Miura, a former ONE strawweight title challenger who dropped to atomweight last year, will compete against Colombian newcomer Juliana Otalora at ONE Friday Fights 116 – and is believed to be in pole position to challenge newly elevated champion Denice Zamboanga in November.
Sawada is currently ranked No 5 in the atomweight MMA division and knows the opportunity may not fall to her just yet.
'If there is no title shot, I want Ham Seo Hee,' she said. 'Or it is going to be Ayaka Miura in Japan.'
Sawada, who trains with AACC in Tokyo, dominated from the opening bell against Aragon – who had failed hydration for the bout – before locking in the armbar.
'Armbar is just one of my plans that I had for Aragon,' she said. 'I also prepared other submission techniques like the leg lock, and I have increased my striking skills also. But this time, the armbar – I made it, I executed, and I'm very happy about that.'
Despite the finish, Sawada missed out on a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
'I expected the bonus, but maybe this is not the right timing for that – next time,' she said.
Asked whether she was compensated in other ways after Aragon's weigh-in issues, she smiled and replied, 'I can't say anything about this!' – though it is likely she received at least 20 per cent of her opponent's fight purse.
Sawada was quick to thank her supporters after the win, which improved her overall record to 9-1-1, and 4-1 in ONE Championship.
'Thank you very much to everybody that's been supporting me from Japan – and not only from Japan, from my fans around the world,' she said. 'It means a lot to me.
'And not only that – all the athletes that have been training with me, all my trainers, everybody in my gym, and especially my corners that have been helping me. I thank them a lot.'
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Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
ONE Championship: Chihiro Sawada targets Denice Zamboanga title shot in Japan after submission win
Chihiro Sawada has her sights set on a ONE Championship world title shot – and she wants it in her home country. The Japanese atomweight contender returned to winning ways with a first-round armbar submission of Argentina's Macarena Aragon last Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 33 in Bangkok. It marked a strong response from the 27-year-old after her first professional loss – a decision defeat to China's Meng Bo in January – and she now has her eye on gold. 'My intention is the same – to go to that Japan card, ONE 173,' Sawada told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. 'I got the win and I want the chance to fight there too.' ONE 173 is set for November 16 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. But it remains to be seen whether Sawada will get her wish. Ayaka Miura, a former ONE strawweight title challenger who dropped to atomweight last year, will compete against Colombian newcomer Juliana Otalora at ONE Friday Fights 116 – and is believed to be in pole position to challenge newly elevated champion Denice Zamboanga in November. Sawada is currently ranked No 5 in the atomweight MMA division and knows the opportunity may not fall to her just yet. 'If there is no title shot, I want Ham Seo Hee,' she said. 'Or it is going to be Ayaka Miura in Japan.' Sawada, who trains with AACC in Tokyo, dominated from the opening bell against Aragon – who had failed hydration for the bout – before locking in the armbar. 'Armbar is just one of my plans that I had for Aragon,' she said. 'I also prepared other submission techniques like the leg lock, and I have increased my striking skills also. But this time, the armbar – I made it, I executed, and I'm very happy about that.' Despite the finish, Sawada missed out on a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. 'I expected the bonus, but maybe this is not the right timing for that – next time,' she said. Asked whether she was compensated in other ways after Aragon's weigh-in issues, she smiled and replied, 'I can't say anything about this!' – though it is likely she received at least 20 per cent of her opponent's fight purse. Sawada was quick to thank her supporters after the win, which improved her overall record to 9-1-1, and 4-1 in ONE Championship. 'Thank you very much to everybody that's been supporting me from Japan – and not only from Japan, from my fans around the world,' she said. 'It means a lot to me. 'And not only that – all the athletes that have been training with me, all my trainers, everybody in my gym, and especially my corners that have been helping me. I thank them a lot.'
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ONE Championship: Shadow ‘very upset' by No Contest, says elbow – not eye poke
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Bangkok Post
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ONE Championship: Allycia Rodrigues declares herself ‘queen of Muay Thai' and plots MMA switch after KO win
Allycia Rodrigues believes she's ONE Championship's queen of Muay Thai – and now she's ready to conquer the world of MMA. Allycia Rodrigues believes she's ONE Championship's queen of Muay Thai – and now she's ready to conquer the world of MMA. The Brazilian retained her atomweight Muay Thai title with a third-round knockout of Sweden's Johanna Persson on Saturday morning in Bangkok, closing the ONE Fight Night 33 card at Lumpinee Stadium in style. It was a second straight KO win – and a second straight US$50,000 bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. 'I don't know if I'm the most dangerous woman in ONE Championship, but I'm working for this,' Rodrigues told the Bangkok Post backstage. 'We want whoever comes to fight with us to be scared of us. They know it's going to be a hard time. We're going to be a problem for them.' The 26-year-old has repeatedly been linked with a super fight against ONE atomweight kickboxing champion Phetjeeja – but made clear she's grown tired of the question. 'We never pick fights,' Rodrigues said. 'Whoever they send, we'll take. It's not from her, not from us – it's up to ONE Championship. 'I know she wants to fight us. Everybody knows we want to fight her too. But if we need to face her, we're going to see who is No 1 in ONE. For Muay Thai, I'm the queen.' That may not be the case for much longer. The Bangkok Post understands a full move to MMA is on the horizon – with her coach at Phuket Fight Club, BJJ black belt Leo Elias, revealing she is already training regularly in the grappling arts. 'The focus is next year we're going to start MMA,' Rodrigues said. 'We just come back to Muay Thai when we have a fight, but we are already training.' A title shot against atomweight MMA champ Denice Zamboanga straight away? Rodrigues said 'no – step by step', smiling. 'No need to rush,' Elias added. 'We don't want to just fight. We want to compete. Many people come in the ring to fight, but not many people are ready to fight. When we come for the MMA belt, we're going to be ready.' For now, Rodrigues is focused on building an even more dominant legacy – one knockout at a time. 'We want to try to make more finishes – and we're doing it now,' she said. 'You're going to see a better version of me every fight. After every fight we come better and better.' Elias echoed the sentiment. 'We don't focus on anyone – it's about us,' he said. 'Right now, I don't see anyone at Allycia's level. Whatever they come with, we're going to be ready. 'In my eyes, she's the best in the world.' Rodrigues nodded. 'Yes – I feel so confident. I train really hard. My hands are so good. Everything is good now. I feel my Muay Thai is so good. 'And I can still get better.'
