For Keito Yamakita, his strawweight MMA showdown with Alex “Little Rock” Silva at ONE Fight Night 8: Superlek vs. Williams on Prime Video this Friday, March 24, is a sign of better things to come inside the ONE Championship Circle. Silva never fails to bring his “A Game,” and his finishing abilities and experience in MMA put him among the best in the promotion’s talent-rich strawweight division, so facing him is a step up for the undefeated 26-year-old star. 

Yamakita remains unfazed by his upcoming opponent’s prowess, however, and he is supremely focused on securing a win against the former divisional king.

Keito Yamakita lauded his opponent’s strengths and predicted a tough bout

The undefeated 26-year-old shared, “Since the moment I got the Pancrase Title, I’ve been preparing for this opportunity to fight in ONE Championship. When I got this offer, I really felt how serious ONE is, and I can see the expectation they have of me because they’re giving me Alex Silva, who is a former ONE World Champion.”

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“He’s a very good fighter. He can submit and can also strike. This is going to be a non-stop fight, both on the ground and standing.”

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Being paired against “Little Rock” is proof that the matchmakers in ONE are paying attention to the highly rated Japanese star. And with a 7-0 run, including a pair of submissions and a knockout, it’s easy to understand why.

Keito Yamakita intended to take his first step in ONE with a win

But Yamakita isn’t one to rest on his laurels. Instead of making an impression through past achievements, the Inaba native is keen to impress here and now. And he believes he’s figured out a way past Silva. 

He said, “I believe my stamina and strong scrambling ability are advantages for this fight.”

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“I will aim for the finish. I respect Alex Silva. But if I want to be ONE World Champion, I cannot lose at this level. I will win quickly and move on to the next level. It’s my turn to shine. I will get the belt. This is the first step.”