ONE Championship has delivered a landmark double announcement for the atomweight MMA division. Japan’s Chihiro Sawada fights for the vacant ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title against undefeated Anastasia Nikolakakos at ONE SAMURAI 6 in December.
Also, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues makes her high-profile MMA debut against French striker Charlotte Padie at The Inner Circle 39 in November at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The title picture changed when Denice Zamboanga gave up her ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title to embrace motherhood, creating an opportunity for another contender to claim the crown.
Sawada, 28, is the favourite heading into the fight. The IDEA Asakusa and Team Akatsuki product rides a four-fight winning streak built on the wrestling-heavy, ground-and-pound style that has made her one of the division’s most complete fighters. A victory on December 2 would make her Japan’s first-ever women’s ONE World Champion, a historic achievement that will drive every session between now and fight night.
Nikolakakos, 36, has been equally impressive since joining ONE Championship. The Gracie Humaita Bolton product carries a perfect 7-0 career record and a 2-0 ONE mark into the title fight, having secured victories over Victoria Souza and Jihin Radzuan to earn the opportunity.
The second announcement carries its own historic significance. Rodrigues, 28, has been teasing an MMA debut for some time, and the moment has finally arrived. Now, the Brazilian mom-champ steps into MMA territory against Padie on November 20, with a potential title shot in her sights if the performance warrants it.
Two huge atomweight MMA fights. A title up for grabs in Japan. And a Muay Thai queen making her MMA debut in Bangkok. The atomweight division is about to have a very eventful final stretch of the year.
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