Former ONE World Title challenger Mei "V.V" Yamaguchi will be looking to make a statement when she meets the Philippines’ Jomary "The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres this coming Friday, 7 December.
Yamaguchi, who is most remembered for her two epic bouts with reigning ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, is scheduled to square off against the young Filipina at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 35-year-old Japanese dynamo is a highly respected mixed martial arts veteran, and she believes her experience will play a crucial role in the upcoming three-round atomweight clash.
"I think my experience will allow me to stay calm, and adapt my approach so I can find my way out of any difficult situation that happens during the bout," she told ONEFC.com. "That’s when my experience becomes a good advantage for me.”
Yamaguchi came up short in her last outing, falling to Lee via unanimous decision in the main event of ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS last May.
Despite the setback, “V.V.” took the celebrated atomweight queen into deep waters once again with her wrestling and wide array of striking.
She hopes a victory over Torres will lead to another showdown with Lee.
Wishing to get a third World Title shot at ONE Championship’s inaugural event in Tokyo, Japan in March 2019, Yamaguchi is driven to author a dominant performance to validate her position as next in line for the title.
"I think it’s a really great chance to show my skills, and make a statement that I want to fight for the title in Japan,” she explained. “I think I need to produce a clean finish in this fight, for sure.”
Similar to Yamaguchi, Torres is also coming off a setback.
Last September, she suffered the first defeat of her career when Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol routed her via unanimous decision at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES.
"The Zamboanginian Fighter” is motivated to return stronger than ever and get back in the win column.
Torres has a relentless approach and excellent all-around skills, which makes the 22-year-old a tough proposition for anyone in the division.
Yamaguchi is fully aware of that.
"ONE Championship gave me a really good opponent. She’s pretty strong, and most of her movement is pretty powerful, so I think that’s what I need to be most aware of," the Japanese competitor said.
"I know that, every time, she will look to go for the takedown, and I need to be aware of that all the way through the fight.”
“V.V.” has proven time and time again that she packs massive power in her right hand, and it was most evident during her first encounter against Lee at ONE: ASCENT TO POWER in May 2016.
It has been three years since Yamaguchi has claimed a victory by stoppage, and at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, she aims to end that drought at the expense of Torres — perhaps even with that massive punch.
"Hopefully, the finish will come on the feet. It’s all about the strategy,” she said. “She’s a good grappler, but I think I have a really good chance to finish her, so I’m really excited.”
