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    ONE Fight Night 39: “I want the title shot”

    Rambamwellness.comSportsFebruary 4, 2026
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    Former Shooto Champion Chihiro Sawada of Japan proved she is indeed one of the best 115-pound female fighters on the planet at ONE Fight Night 39.

    The 28-year-old Tokyo native cemented her claim for 26 pounds of gold when she outpointed Natalie Salcedo via unanimous decision on Jan. 23 inside ‘The Mecca of Muay Thai’ Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

    Sawada displayed an improved striking repertoire against the previously undefeated American and improved her overall record to 11-1.

    More importantly, it positioned her for a potential showdown with reigning ONE atomweight MMA world champion Denice ‘The Menace’ Zamboanga.

    Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

    However, the Filipina is on the mend due to an illness, and Sawada understands that she might need to battle other contenders in the meantime.

    However, the AACC standout has no problem proving herself more and is open to another potential world title eliminator. She told Nick Atkin of the Bangkok Post in her post-event interview:

    “I don’t want to be selfish. So, I’m going to leave this to Mr. Chatri [Sityodtong]. But, to be honest, I want the title shot. But if I need to be tested, I’ll get over it and climb to the title shot.”

    The women’s atomweight division is ripe with talent, with names like Ayaka ‘Zombie’ Miura and former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex also in the running to face Zamboanga.

    Sawada will gladly face these two elite female warriors for a chance to vie for the world title once Zamboanga recovers.

    Here’s the full interview:

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    Chihiro Sawada says Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga are her dream fights

    Chihiro Sawada’s hot streak has put her in a position to challenge some of the biggest names in the division.

    The Japanese star is finally reaping the reward for her hard work and wants a shot against a high-profile foe.

    She told the Bangkok Post’s Nick Atkin through a translator:

    “Stamp and Denice… those two are also another reason why I came to ONE. I want to fight these two. I think maybe before or after Denice got the belt, I’ve already mentioned about this, too.”

    The full ONE Fight Night 39 replay is available on demand for North American Prime Video subscribers.