# Willie van Rooyen and Yuya Wakamatsu MMA bout

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/willie-van-rooyen-and-yuya-wakamatsu-mma-bout
> Updated: 2026-09-10T01:31:15.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

South African flyweight MMA fighter Willie van Rooyen is scheduled to compete against former ONE flyweight world champion Yuya Wakamatsu at the ONE SAMURAI 3 event in Yokohama, Japan.

Van Rooyen, an 8-1 professional fighter, enters the bout following a third-round TKO victory in March. Wakamatsu, seeking a second title run, has reportedly adjusted his training to focus on chain wrestling and top pressure. The contest is positioned as a potential pathway for the winner to secure a rematch against the reigning champion, Avazbek Kholmirzaev.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Yuya Wakamatsu faces Willie van Rooyen at ONE SAMURAI 3

Yuya Wakamatsu faces Willie van Rooyen in the co-main event of ONE SAMURAI 3 in Yokohama, Japan, as Wakamatsu seeks to rebuild his path toward a second flyweight world title.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yuya-wakamatsu-faces-willie-van-rooyen-at-one-samurai-3

### 2026-08-20: Willie van Rooyen to face Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 3

South African MMA fighter Willie ‘White Lion’ van Rooyen will face former champion Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 3 in Yokohama, Japan, on September 12.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/willie-van-rooyen-to-face-yuya-wakamatsu-at-one-samurai-3

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Cite as: Willie van Rooyen and Yuya Wakamatsu MMA bout. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/willie-van-rooyen-and-yuya-wakamatsu-mma-bout