Chihiro Sawada approaches her atomweight bout against Natalie Salcedo at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, in U.S. primetime with title aspirations that extend well beyond a single opponent.
The 28-year-old Japanese fighter believes victory over the undefeated American could position her for immediate championship consideration while a potential showdown with Ayaka Miura looms as another path toward ONE Champioship gold.
Sawada acknowledges Salcedo's unblemished record but considers her ONE Championship experience a decisive advantage heading into their matchup. The former Shooto titleholder has compiled a 10-1 professional record including five victories in six promotional appearances since arriving in 2023, developing a comprehensive understanding of competing at the organization's elite level.
"I know she's an undefeated fighter, though I think my skills are better than hers. But I don't think so much of these things — that she is undefeated — I'm just confident in my skills," Sawada stated.
Her promotional tenure began with an Americana submission of Sanaz Fayazmanesh before decision victories over Jihin Radzuan and Noelle Grandjean extended her winning streak to eight. The run ended with a 2025 loss to Meng Bo that marked her first professional defeat, but Sawada responded immediately with consecutive victories. She submitted Macarena Aragon via first-round armbar at ONE Fight Night 33 in July before outworking Itsuki Hirata over three rounds at ONE 173 in November.
The two-fight winning streak positions her favorably within the atomweight division, though she recognizes that joining ONE Championship meant accepting competition against the world's best rather than seeking manageable opposition.
"The reason I joined ONE Championship is because I believe ONE Championship's women's atomweight division is the best in the world. And I'm confident with my skills, so I joined ONE Championship," Sawada explained.
Her ambitions center specifically on reigning titleholder Denice Zamboanga and former queen Stamp Fairtex as the benchmarks for measuring elite status. However, Zamboanga's ongoing health issues have placed the title picture on pause while Stamp continues working back toward championship form following recent struggles. The shifting landscape has created opportunities for new contenders, with Miura emerging as a significant factor after dropping from strawweight.
"I would like to fight Stamp Fairtex and Denice Zamboanga. That's why I joined ONE Championship's atomweight division. I'm overwhelmed by all the talented fighters, but I'm confident with my skills," Sawada said.
Miura has dominated since moving to atomweight, winning all four appearances including three first-round submissions. The success has positioned her as a potential number one contender while creating the possibility of an all-Japan showdown that could determine who challenges for the title next. Sawada welcomes the potential matchup rather than avoiding it, viewing Miura as a necessary step if the division's hierarchy demands their meeting.
"I am confident I can overwhelm Ayaka Miura, surely, as an MMA fighter. I watched her fights before, and I think she's a complete MMA fighter. After she moved down to atomweight, she had good results as well," Sawada noted. "For me, I am open to fighting against Ayaka Miura for a shot at the title. Of course, I'm confident in my skills as an MMA fighter, so I have no problem fighting her in the future."
The confidence in potentially facing Miura doesn't diminish her focus on the immediate task. Salcedo represents the only obstacle that matters until January 23, with anything beyond ONE Fight Night 39 remaining irrelevant until she clears that hurdle. Sawada's preference centers on receiving an immediate title opportunity following victory, though she acknowledges that decision rests with ONE Championship rather than her desires.
"If possible, I want a title shot as soon as possible, but this isn't my decision. That's why I have to focus on my next fight. Once I finish or win against Natalie Salcedo, of course I want to get the title shot," Sawada stated. "If ONE Championship requests another fight against someone else, I'll be happy to fight them. But I would rather get the title shot as soon as possible."
