Chihiro Sawada's transformation from grappling-dependent fighter to complete mixed martial artist reached its pinnacle at ONE Fight Night 39, where the Japanese athlete systematically dismantled previously undefeated American Natalie Salcedo over three rounds.
The 30-year-old delivered a striking masterclass at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, landing her left hand with precision while mixing in her established ground control to secure a unanimous decision.
Sawada's performance represented the culmination of dedicated work addressing the striking deficiencies that previously limited her championship potential.
"In this fight, I believe I showed a performance that reflects my level of striking, which used to be my weakness. I wanted to control the whole game myself, and make her come to me in my striking game," the Japanese fighter explained.
The complete performance displayed growth that positions her as a legitimate title threat.
Despite the dominant victory, Sawada maintained perspective on her journey toward championship gold.
"I believe that as a fighter, you just do what you're supposed to do. If you win, that's good, and I want to use this victory as motivation to keep improving myself," she stated.
The humble approach belies Sawada's confidence that her improved skill set warrants title consideration.
She believes the timing is right to challenge for ONE Women's Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga's title, though the champion's current injury situation has created alternative possibilities.
"I believe that right now I'm in a position for the title shot. First, I feel sympathy and hope Denice [Zamboanga] recovers as fast as possible. As for an [interim] title shot, of course I want to do it against Ayaka Miura," Sawada revealed.
The proposed interim championship bout with fellow Japanese fighter Miura would deliver a marquee all-Japan showdown at ONE 175 in April.
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