The strawweight MMA division in ONE Championship stands as one of the most competitive and storied weight classes in the promotion\u2019s rich history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several notable athletes have vied for the 125-pound crown over the years, producing legendary battles, stunning comebacks, and career-defining moments that have captivated fight fans worldwide.<\/p>\n
The division has witnessed modern-day heroes bring pride and glory to their respective countries by capturing the coveted ONE Strawweight MMA World Title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Among those is reigning king Joshua \u201cThe Passion\u201d Pacio<\/a>, who will pursue two-division supremacy by challenging ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya \u201cLittle Piranha\u201d Wakamatsu<\/a> at ONE 173: Superbon vs Noiri<\/a> at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on November 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n But before the Filipino superstar embarks on his historic quest, let\u2019s take a trip down memory lane and honor every fighter who has worn the strawweight MMA gold.<\/p>\n Thai Icon Dejdamrong Makes History As Inaugural World Champion<\/p>\n The story of the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship began with a Muay Thai icon who broke barriers by capturing glory in mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n Decorated Muay Thai veteran Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke made history when he captured the inaugural ONE Strawweight MMA World Title with a hard-fought TKO victory over Roy Doliguez at ONE: Warrior\u2019s Quest in May 2015.<\/p>\n The three-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion became Thailand\u2019s first-ever MMA world champion at 36, achieving this remarkable feat just five fights into his transition from \u201cthe art of eight limbs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKru Rong\u201d went on to defend his belt against Brazil\u2019s Yago Bryan later that year.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, his reign came to an end at ONE: Kingdom of Champions<\/a> in May 2016, when he succumbed to Japanese grappling specialist Yoshitaka Naito\u2019s superior wrestling and submission skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite losing his World Title, Dejdamrong\u2019s pioneering reign proved that elite Muay Thai fighters could successfully transition to MMA\u2019s highest level.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s Submission Hunter Naito Dominates Through Grappling Excellence<\/p>\n When Yoshitaka Naito dethroned Dejdamrong, he brought new elements to the strawweight MMA division, establishing himself as one of its most dangerous grapplers.<\/p>\n Naito\u2019s championship victory was built on methodical excellence. He implemented his wrestling-focused style to perfection to negate the feared Muay Thai striker\u2019s best weapons and submit him with a rear-naked choke.<\/p>\n \u201cNobita\u201d continued his dominance by handing Pacio his first career loss at ONE: State of Warriors<\/a> in October 2016, forcing the future titleholder to tap.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n But the Japanese fighter\u2019s dynasty was cut short when Brazilian star Alex \u201cLittle Rock\u201d Silva<\/a> outstruck him and stuffed his takedowns to claim the golden belt via unanimous decision at ONE: Warriors of the World<\/a> in December 2017.<\/p>\n However, Naito\u2019s story didn\u2019t end there. He eventually reclaimed the World Title in his rematch with Silva at ONE: Grit & Glory<\/a> in 2018 via unanimous decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unfortunately for \u201cNobita,\u201d he couldn\u2019t hold onto the gold for long, and surrendered it to Pacio at ONE: Conquest of Heroes<\/a> later that year via unanimous decision.<\/p>\n Through multiple World Title reigns and epic battles, Naito demonstrated that greatness isn\u2019t measured in single moments, but in the relentless pursuit of excellence that drives legends to keep fighting.<\/p>\n Brazil\u2019s Veteran Silva Claims Gold Through Experience And Craft<\/p>\n Alex Silva\u2019s golden journey in ONE exemplified experience and adaptability at the highest level.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion outgrappled the submission specialist Naito while showcasing underrated striking to conquer a second sport.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Rock\u201d defended his belt in an immediate rematch at ONE: Grit & Glory in 2018, but Naito\u2019s wrestling-heavy approach and submission threats were on point as the Japanese star reclaimed his throne.<\/p>\n The rivals met once more in 2019, with Naito completing their trilogy with another victory.<\/p>\n Silva\u2019s brief but memorable World Title reign perfectly captured the chess match between two elite grapplers, whose rivalry helped elevate the strawweight MMA division.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s Underdog Saruta Seizes His Moment In The Spotlight<\/p>\n When Yosuke \u201cThe Ninja\u201d Saruta<\/a> challenged the dynamic Pacio at ONE: Eternal Glory<\/a> in January 2019, few expected the Japanese veteran to derail the young Filipino\u2019s momentum. But Saruta\u2019s veteran savvy and relentless pressure proved decisive in a closely contested battle.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Tokyo native utilized effective wrestling and calculated striking to edge out a controversial split decision victory, proving that experience can overcome youth at the highest level.<\/p>\n However, \u201cThe Ninja\u201d couldn\u2019t keep the throne long. Just months later at ONE: Roots of Honor<\/a> in Manila, \u201cThe Passion\u201d uncorked a picture-perfect knee strike in the fourth round that ended the contest in spectacular fashion.<\/p>\n Pacio and Saruta met once more at ONE: Revolution<\/a> in 2021, with \u201cThe Passion\u201d again emerging victorious. \u201cThe Ninja\u2019s\u201d short reign cemented his legacy as a crafty veteran who seized his moment when opportunity knocked.<\/p>\n American Wrestling Machine Brooks Brings New Energy To The Division<\/p>\n The strawweight MMA division shifted dramatically when Jarred \u201cThe Monkey God\u201d Brooks<\/a> brought his feisty swagger and world-class skills from the United States to the world\u2019s largest martial arts organization.<\/p>\n Brooks ran roughshod over the competition, blitzed through the ranks and employed a take-no-prisoners approach, using elite wrestling to earn his World Title shot.<\/p>\n His breakthrough came at ONE 164<\/a> in December 2022, when he delivered a masterful performance against Pacio in Manila, silencing the Filipino crowd with impeccable takedowns and overwhelming combinations to cruise to a unanimous decision victory.<\/p>\n However, \u201cThe Monkey God\u2019s\u201d reign was marked by controversy. At ONE 166: Qatar<\/a> in 2024, Brooks was disqualified for an illegal spike, resulting in the belt being awarded back to Pacio.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n With the Filipino sidelined due to an injury that followed shortly after, Brooks reclaimed interim gold by submitting Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24<\/a> in August 2024, setting the stage for his trilogy and unification bout against Pacio.<\/p>\n