Legends create blueprints, and Chihiro Sawada followed one written by Japanese mixed martial arts pioneer Megumi Fujii.

Sawada has emerged as one of the most feared fighters in the stacked women’s atomweight MMA division, and that reputation traces back to childhood training under Fujii. Sawada returns to action against undefeated American Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

The 28-year-old reflected on how her early connection with Fujii shaped her path into professional MMA. Fujii taught her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling around age 10, when the legendary fighter was already recognized as a trailblazer for women’s MMA in Japan and overseas.

Fujii compiled 26 victories in 29 professional bouts before retiring in 2013 at age 39, with 19 wins coming by submission. Those credentials resonated deeply with young Sawada, who followed a similar path.

“When I was around 10 years old, she taught me BJJ and wrestling. When I was learning from her, she was a famous female athlete in Japan, so I admired her,” she said. “I wasn’t that good at wrestling, so that’s why I focused on it.”

Chihiro Sawada targets championship gold with Fujii’s guidance

Chihiro Sawada’s grappling has become her defining weapon. Once fights hit the canvas, opponents find little room to breathe under her suffocating control. Since making her promotional debut in 2023, the Tokyo native has posted five wins in six appearances.

Most recently, Sawada showcased sustained positional dominance to outwork fellow Japanese standout Itsuki Hirata over three rounds, earning a unanimous decision at ONE 173 last November. Before graduating high school, she sought Fujii’s guidance about professional MMA.

“Before I graduated from high school, I asked her about MMA, and when I fought professionally in Shooto, she supported me as well,” she said. “We don’t have such a close relationship now, but whenever I have a fight, and when I win the fight, she’ll message me and show her support in each of my fights.”

Fujii’s influence continues shaping Sawada’s ambitions. Riding a two-fight winning streak in the atomweight division, she knows another breakthrough performance could place her among the promotion’s elite. She’s already identified ultimate benchmarks in reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice Zamboanga and former queen Stamp Fairtex.

“I would love to win the ONE Championship belt,” she said. “I want to fight against Denice Zamboanga. And I want to fight against Stamp Fairtex.”