Joshua Perreira vs Antonio Cesar Set for ONE Fight Night 48

Joshua Perreira will put his unbeaten record on the line against Antonio Cesar in a flyweight MMA bout added to ONE Fight Night 48, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, October 2.

Perreira, who trains under Matt Brown at Immortal Martial Arts, brings a 6-0 record into the matchup, highlighted by a 38-second spinning backfist knockout earlier this year. His promotional debut technically ended in a no contest after a TKO loss was overturned when it was revealed he suffered a knee injury requiring ACL surgery during the fight.

Cesar enters on a nine-fight winning streak and a 14-2 overall record with five finishes. He was actually the short-notice replacement who beat Lito Adiwang by unanimous decision after Perreira was forced out of that booking, a performance that instantly established him as a legitimate threat in the flyweight division rather than just a name filling a gap.

What's at Stake for the Flyweight Division

This fight pits perfection against momentum, and the loser takes a real hit in a crowded 125-pound weight class. Perreira has never faced anyone with Cesar's level of recent form, and Cesar has never faced an opponent who is still unbeaten as a pro. Whoever loses will see his stock drop in a division that already has plenty of undefeated prospects pushing for attention.

There's an added wrinkle here too. Cesar's biggest win to date came in a fight he only got because Perreira pulled out. Now he gets a chance to beat Perreira directly, which would make his case as a rising contender even stronger.

Betting Angle

Perreira's knockout power, especially off spinning strikes, makes him a live underdog or a short favorite depending on how oddsmakers weigh his layoff and the knee injury against Cesar's current form. Cesar's win over Adiwang came on short notice, which tends to be undervalued by bettors but often means a fighter was already fight-ready and sharp. Given Cesar's finishing rate and Perreira's history of ending fights early, the smart play for bettors once lines open will likely be looking at method-of-victory props over a straight moneyline bet.

The card also added a strawweight bout between Lee Seung Cheol and Karen Ghazaryan. Lee carries a 6-0 promotional record and a 13-1 mark overall, while Ghazaryan is 5-1 with every win coming by finish. Ghazaryan's only loss came in his promotional debut, a setback he answered immediately by stopping Hisashi Ezaki in his next fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Joshua Perreira fighting at ONE Fight Night 48?

Joshua Perreira faces Antonio Cesar in a flyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 48, held October 2 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

What is Joshua Perreira's MMA record?

Joshua Perreira is 6-0 as a professional, with his most recent win coming via a 38-second spinning backfist knockout of Gilbert Nakatani.

What is Antonio Cesar's current winning streak?

Antonio Cesar is on a nine-fight winning streak and holds an overall record of 14-2, including a unanimous decision win over Lito Adiwang on short notice.