ALMOST — but not quite. That has been the story of Lito Adiwang’s journey in ONE Championship whenever he tries to secure his place among the strawweight MMA elite.
There’s no denying that Adiwang is one of the most electrifying 125-pounders under the promotion’s banner. The man is a walking highlight reel, a dynamo of fury and flair. But when you look at the rankings, his name is conspicuously absent from the Top Five.
That’s exactly what he aimed to change at ONE Fight Night 28 over the weekend. “Thunder Kid” marched into battle against No. 4-ranked Keito Yamakita, hoping to force his way into the conversation.
But just as he knocked, Yamakita slammed the door right in his face.
As expected, Adiwang came out guns blazing, throwing everything but the kitchen sink. However, Yamakita came in prepared. The Japanese grappling ace dragged the bout to the mat, controlling the first round from the top position and peppering Adiwang with knees, submission threats, and relentless pressure.
Yamakita kept his foot on the gas in the second stanza, nearly ending matters with a bulldog choke. But to Adiwang’s credit, he showed the grit of a true warrior, weathering the storm and even rocking the Japanese with a vicious body shot late in the frame.
In the third frame, Adiwang’s best moment came when he landed a crisp body shot-right hook combination that briefly stunned his counterpart. But his momentum was short-lived. Yamakita went back to his bread and butter for the remainder of the match to cruise to a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.
And just like that, Adiwang’s impressive three-fight winning streak — one he meticulously built after coming back from an ACL injury — was snapped.
So now, the burning question is: Where does Lito Adiwang go from here?
The strawweight division is on the cusp of a shake-up. Lineal champion Joshua Pacio is set to unify the belts against interim titleholder Jarred Brooks at ONE 171 on February 20. Meanwhile, No. 5-rated Sanzhar Zakirov has expressed interest in moving up to flyweight, which could leave a vacant spot in the rankings.
Adiwang still has plenty of intriguing options. Mansur Malachiev and Bokang Masunyane are Top Five fixtures he has yet to test himself against. Outside of the rankings, there are former champions like Yosuke Saruta and Alex Silva, as well as ex-interim title challenger Gustavo Balart.
The opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his compatriot, Pacio, and his old rival, Brooks, isn’t out of reach — it just requires the right moves before 2025 is over.
But let’s address the elephant in the room: Many of these potential opponents thrive in the one area that has plagued Adiwang in the past — grappling.
Yes, Yamakita outworked him on the ground at ONE Fight Night 28. But let’s not pretend this was the same Adiwang who fell to Brooks and Hiroba Minowa. The Filipino scrapper showed marked improvement in his defensive awareness, refusing to be overwhelmed and constantly searching for a way out.
Yamakita showcased his elite wrestling, but Adiwang made him work for every inch. Ladies and gentlemen, MMA is a multi-faceted sport. It’s not boxing, where you only have to worry about two fists. It’s not even kickboxing, where your only concern is getting kicked in the ribs or punched in the face. This is the wild, unpredictable world of mixed martial arts — where a fight can change in the blink of an eye and where a single mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Adiwang’s defeat to Yamakita is not a death sentence. It’s a lesson — or a stepping stone. And if we know anything about “Thunder Kid,” it’s that he won’t go quietly into the night.
So don’t be surprised when you hear that rumble again. Because when Lito Adiwang storms back, he won’t just be knocking on the door.
He’ll be kicking it down.
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