Antonio Cesar Sets ONE Title Timeline After TKO Win

Antonio Cesar wants one more fight before challenging for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship, and he already has a name in mind: former champion Yuya Wakamatsu.

The 22-year-old Brazilian improved to 2-0 in ONE Championship and extended his overall winning streak to 10 fights with a first-round TKO of Joshua Perreira at ONE Fight Night 48 on Friday, October 2, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Perreira absorbed heavy strikes and two takedowns after landing an early elbow, and he was unable to continue after the round ended. Referee Olivier Coste waved in the ringside doctor, who stopped the bout. It was the first loss of Perreira's professional career.

What Antonio Cesar Said About The Perreira Fight

Antonio Cesar said he stuck to a game plan built around reading Joshua Perreira's striking tendencies before taking over. "Basically, the game plan was to get there and to feel the fight and do it in my own Brazilian way," Cesar said. "I knew that Joshua would do the striking game. He would do a lot of hands and all that. So it was something that I had been training for. So there was no surprise, and I managed to do what I planned." The finish showed a fighter comfortable mixing his hands with takedowns rather than leaning on one dimension, which is notable given how quickly he dismantled an opponent making his promotional debut.

Why Antonio Cesar Wants One More Fight Before A Title Shot

Antonio Cesar is not rushing a shot at reigning ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Avazbek Kholmirzaev, and he specifically wants to face former champion Yuya Wakamatsu first. "I would like to get one more fight with anyone here in ONE and to test myself a bit. And then after that I would call for the championship, for the champion," Cesar said. He added a rough timeline for the move: "I would say that it would be around next year that I would be very ready to fight for the belt." Calling out a former titleholder by name rather than simply asking for any ranked opponent signals real confidence. Wakamatsu has already been through championship rounds and knows what title-level pace looks like, so a win there would be a far stronger résumé builder than a routine step-up fight.

Betting Angle

Antonio Cesar's stock should climb with oddsmakers and matchmakers alike after a finish that fast against an opponent who had never lost. A first-round doctor stoppage built on volume striking and clean takedowns is the kind of performance that tends to shorten a fighter's price in any future ONE Championship bout, particularly if the promotion grants his wish for a fight with Yuya Wakamatsu. Until that matchup is official, there is no line to react to, but bettors tracking the flyweight MMA division should note Cesar as a live threat whose asking price will only go up the longer he stays unbeaten in the promotion. A clash with a former champion carries obvious two-way betting interest and would likely open close, given Wakamatsu's title pedigree against Cesar's finishing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Antonio Cesar beat at ONE Fight Night 48?

Antonio Cesar defeated Joshua Perreira by first-round TKO via doctor stoppage at ONE Fight Night 48 on October 2 in Bangkok, Thailand, handing Perreira the first loss of his career.

Who does Antonio Cesar want to fight next?

Antonio Cesar has called for a fight against former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu before pursuing a title shot.

When does Antonio Cesar want to fight for the ONE Flyweight title?

Antonio Cesar said he expects to be ready to challenge for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship, currently held by Avazbek Kholmirzaev, sometime next year.