Japanese atomweight contender Chihiro Sawada believes a submission victory over Argentina's Macarena Aragon at ONE Fight Night 33 on July 12 could pave her way to a championship opportunity against divisional queen Denice Zamboanga.The 27-year-old former wrestling champion will step into Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium looking to bounce back from her most recent setback while positioning herself for bigger fights in the loaded atomweight MMA division.
Sawada has established herself as one of the division's most promising prospects since transitioning to MMA in 2021. Her impressive run in ONE Championship included three consecutive victories over Sanaz Fayazmanesh, Jihin Radzuan, and Noelle Grandjean, showcasing her well-rounded skill set and submission prowess.
Now facing the 23-year-old Aragon, who has competed twice in ONE Championship, Sawada has done her homework on her aggressive opponent.
"She's fought twice in ONE, and watching her fights, she's an aggressive type who comes forward. She has a judo base, seems physically strong, and has strong hips," Sawada analyzed.
The Japanese fighter understands that controlling the pace will be crucial against an opponent who thrives on forward pressure and physicality."I need to take the initiative and not let her set the pace. I can't let her control the pace," she explained.
When it comes to her path to victory, Sawada is confident in her grappling advantage and believes she can end the fight on the ground."I'm aiming for a submission victory," she stated.Beyond this immediate challenge, Sawada has her eyes on the division's elite, particularly champion Zamboanga."I want to fight top-ranked opponents, but there's an aspect of 'speak up and you might get it,' so I think if I win this fight, I could say I want to fight Zamboanga," she said.
ONE Fight Night 33 will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Select 2 at 6:30 a.m. India Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, 12 July.
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