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Tom Taylor

Chinese flyweight Hu Yong is just getting started in ONE Championship, but he already believes a title shot is in within reach.
After winning four fights in ONE Hero Series, part of the promotion’s talent-scouting programme in China, Hu made his debut on its main roster in March, defeating Thailand’s Yodkaikaew Fairtex by unanimous decision.
That victory set “Wolf Warrior” (7-2) up for a massive opportunity: a fight against No 3-ranked flyweight contender Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE: Winter Warriors on Friday in Singapore.
The 26-year-old Japanese knockout artist is a stern test for Hu, but one he is confident of passing.

“This is the first time I’m getting off the prelim card, and it seems like I’m a lot lower than [Wakamatsu], but I am fully confident in this fight,” Hu said. “I would say he’s the easiest opponent in the top five.”
Hu’s confidence stems from the tape study he has done on Wakamatsu. He claims to have dissected all of his rival’s fights in ONE, and discovered a few things he might be able to capitalise on.

“I have watched all of his ONE Championship fights, and he throws zero kicks and single punches,” Hu said. “He punches really fast, [he’s] really powerful, and his punching comes from out of nowhere, but I think his combinations are kind of weak. My advantage is my combinations.”
Wakamatsu has earned 11 of his 14 victories by way of knockout, most notably thumping former flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio, but Hu feels that is partly because he has been fighting stationary targets.
“He has a very strong right hand, for sure, but all the opponents he’s been knocking out have got weak movement and that’s not my style,” Hu said. “I’ve been training for this fight for a very long time. I’ve got very good movement right now, so I don’t think his knockout power will threaten me any more.”
ONE flyweight champ Moraes lays out big plans for 2022
Heading into Winter Warriors, it is widely believed Wakamatsu is already deserving of a shot at ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes.
If Hu is able to win, he believes he can steal the Japanese puncher’s spot at the front of the queue.
“If [Wakamatsu] can get [a title shot], definitely I should get it if I win the fight,” he said. “I’m very hopeful to get the title shot.”
If a title shot against Moraes does not happen for Hu, fights with other top flyweight contenders, such as former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, are also appealing.


“I’d love to fight with guys like ‘Mighty Mouse’ for sure, and I have full confidence in myself if I ever fight that level of fighter,” he said.
Hu’s first priority, of course, is getting by Wakamatsu, and he intends to do so in emphatic fashion.
“I would like to trade striking with my opponent,” he said, providing a forecast for the fight. “I think he has weaker movement than me, so I’m going to mix my movement, my punches and kicks, and win this victory.
“I want to knock him out in round two, with my punch.”


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

ONE Championship: China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ Hu Yong sees Yuya Wakamatsu fight as short cut to flyweight title shot

Hu Yong celebrates his decision win over Yodkaikaew Fairtex. Photos: ONE Championship

China’s Hu Yong pummels Thailand’s Yodkaikaew Fairtex. 

Yuya Wakamatsu punches Geje Eustaquio.

Kevin Lee and ONE Championship could be a match made in heaven after his shock UFC release

Kevin Lee walks off after knocking out Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Sarah Stier/USA TODAY Sports

The referee steps in after Kevin Lee knocks out Gregor Gillespie. Photo: AP

John Lineker walks off after knocking out Troy Worthen at ONE on TNT 3. Photo: ONE Championship

ONE Championship: Stamp Fairtex, Ritu Phogat ‘gushing and fawning’ over Angela Lee ‘worrying’, says commentator Michael Schiavello

Angela Lee holds her ONE atomweight title inside the Circle. Photos: ONE Championship

Stamp Fairtex is a former ONE atomweight Muay Thai and kick-boxing champion.

Ritu Phogat speaks to ONE commentator Mitch Chilson after beating Jenelyn Olsim at ONE NextGen.

ONE Championship: Stamp Fairtex tells Angela Lee ‘you’re my idol’ as atomweight champ weighs in on grand prix final

Angela Lee poses with her ONE Championship atomweight title on a beach in her native Hawaii. Photo: Instagram/@angelaleemma

Stamp Fairtex heads to the ONE Circle for her atomweight grand prix quarter-final in Singapore. Photo: ONE Championship

Ritu Phogat controls Jenelyn Olsim on the ground in their atomweight grand prix semi-final. Photo: ONE Championship

Stamp Fairtex against Ritu Phogat is a win-win for ONE Championship in atomweight grand prix final

Stamp Fairtex stares down Ritu Phogat. Photos: ONE Championship

Stamp Fairtex holding the ONE atomweight Muay Thai and kick-boxing belts. Photo: ONE Championship.

Ritu Phogat heads to the ONE Circle for her atomweight grand prix semi-final against Jenelyn Olsim.

ONE Championship: Winter Warriors preview – six storylines to watch out for in Singapore

Ritu Phogat (left) and Stamp Fairtex will contest the final of the ONE atomweight grand prix. Photos: ONE Championship

ONE lightweight kick-boxing champion Regian Eersel poses with his belt. Photo: ONE Championship.

Stamp Fairtex (right) stares down Ritu Phogat. Photo: ONE Championship.

Timofey Nastyukhin celebrates his shock win against Eddie Alvarez. Photo: ONE Championship.

Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida looks on ahead of his bout against Anderson Silva.

Yuya Wakamatsu tags Demetrious Johnson in Tokyo.

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Hu fights No 3-ranked flyweight contender Wakamatsu at ONE: Winter Warriors on Friday in Singapore
The bout is only Hu’s second in ONE, but he’s ‘very hopeful’ a title shot against champ Moraes will be next



Chinese flyweight Hu Yong is just getting started in ONE Championship, but believes he can jump the queue to get to champ Adriano Moraes with victory in Singapore.
