Chihiro Sawada traces her grappling foundation to childhood training under Megumi Fujii, the Japanese mixed martial arts pioneer whose influence shaped her approach to competition ahead of facing Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 28-year-old atomweight's connection to Fujii began when she was 10 years old and continues to inform her championship ambitions.
Fujii was already recognized as a trailblazer for women's MMA when she taught the young Sawada Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling. The legendary fighter headlined events across multiple promotions including Jewels and Bellator throughout her career, compiling 26 victories in 29 professional bouts with 19 submission finishes before retiring in 2013 at age 39. Her relentless wrestling and submission-heavy approach established the template that Sawada would later follow.
"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, and thought maybe one day, I could be someone like her," Sawada explained. "I wasn't that good at wrestling, so that's why I focused on it. That's why I focused on wrestling first. That's how I thought about it when I was young."
The early instruction created a foundation that defines Sawada's current style. Her grappling has become the weapon opponents struggle to defend once fights move to the canvas, with her positional control leaving little room for escape. Since making her ONE Championship debut in 2023, the Tokyo native has posted five wins in six appearances, including submissions and decision victories built on sustained ground dominance.
Her promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 5 produced an Americana submission over Sanaz Fayazmanesh in less than two rounds. Most recently, Sawada outworked Itsuki Hirata over three rounds at ONE 173 last November, earning a unanimous decision through positional control that showcased the wrestling foundation Fujii helped establish years earlier.
The relationship between mentor and student extended beyond childhood training. Before graduating high school, Sawada consulted Fujii about pursuing professional MMA, receiving guidance as she entered the sport through Shooto. The support continues today through messages of encouragement after victories, though their direct contact has lessened as Sawada's career has progressed.
"Before I graduated from high school, I asked her about MMA, and when I fought professionally in Shooto, she supported me as well," Sawada 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."
Sawada recognizes that comparing herself to Fujii remains premature given the different eras and circumstances they competed under. Fujii built her legacy when women's MMA was establishing legitimacy in Japan and internationally, while Sawada now competes in ONE Championship's atomweight division against global talent representing the sport's current evolution.
"It's quite difficult to compare myself to Megumi Fujii. Because when I was a kid, Fujii-san was an idol. She was already an accomplished MMA fighter when I was a kid," Sawada stated. "Until now, I can't compare myself to Fujii-san. She's on quite a different level. It's a different circumstance and situation today."
Despite the hesitation to draw direct comparisons, Sawada acknowledges Fujii's significance to Japanese MMA history and her personal development. The legendary fighter's influence extends beyond individual students to represent an entire generation of Japanese fighters who watched her compete at the highest levels internationally.
"Fujii Megumi-san is an idol for Japanese MMA, not only for female fighters. I am thankful to have learned from her mixed martial arts techniques. She's a big idol for us here, a part of the history of Japanese MMA," Sawada explained.
Her ambitions now center on becoming the first Japanese woman to capture a ONE Championship title. Riding a two-fight winning streak entering the Salcedo matchup, Sawada has identified both current atomweight titleholder Denice Zamboanga and former titleholder Stamp Fairtex as the benchmarks for measuring elite status within the division.
"Yeah, I would love to win the ONE Championship belt. It's so cool. I also like ONE Championship's promotion style. If I can win the ONE World Title, I won't be satisfied with just that belt, because I'd like to fight against the best," Sawada said. "This includes Denice Zamboanga. And I also want to fight against Stamp Fairtex."
