Sawada vs. Nikolakakos: Grapplers Collide for Vacant ONE Gold

Two grapplers who like to finish fights on the mat will decide who claims the vacant ONE women's atomweight MMA world title. Chihiro Sawada of Japan faces undefeated Canadian Anastasia Nikolakakos at ONE Samurai 6 on Wednesday, December 2, at Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama. It is the first bout confirmed for the card. Sawada is trying to become the first Japanese woman to win a ONE world title, and Nikolakakos has never lost.

Sawada's climb

The 28-year-old Sawada is a former Shooto atomweight champion. She began her ONE run with three straight wins over Sanaz Fayazmanesh, Jihin Radzuan and Noelle Grandjean. Her only defeat came in January 2025. Since then she has won four in a row: first-round armbars of Macarena Aragon at ONE Fight Night 33 and Ayaka Miura at ONE Samurai 1, a unanimous decision over Itsuki Hirata, and a win that handed Natalie Salcedo the first loss of her career. That streak brought her record to 12-1.

According to the fight announcement, her wrestling ranks among the best in the division, and five of her career wins have come by submission. She will fight for the title on home soil. Sawada represents IDEA Asakusa and Team Akatsuki.

Nikolakakos brings a perfect record

Nikolakakos, nicknamed Anniemale, is 36, holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and is 7-0 as a professional. Her game is built on takedowns, ground control and heavy hands. In her ONE debut she finished Victoria Souza at 4:59 of the first round, and in July she edged Jihin Radzuan by split decision at ONE Fight Night 45. The Toronto-based fighter believed that win put her next in line, and the promotion agreed.

With both women most dangerous on the canvas, the announcement expects the battle for top position to shape all five scheduled rounds, with Sawada leaning on her wrestling and Nikolakakos on her jiu-jitsu. Both women have also beaten Jihin Radzuan.