ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Diogo Reis moved up a division and performed to the best of his abilities in his last outing on the global stage of ONE Championship.
At ONE Fight Night 43: Tang vs. Gasanov on Prime Video, the Brazilian fighter outworked Japanese ace Yuki Takahashi via unanimous decision in their bantamweight submission grappling clash inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The triumph proved his dominance translates seamlessly across weight classes – even against an opponent whose unusually compact frame made the finish stubbornly out of reach.
The 24-year-old controlled almost every exchange throughout the 10-minute affair. From takedowns to guard passes and a stream of submission attempts, all flowed seamlessly across the contest for Diogo Reis.
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Speaking to ONE Championship after the victory in the Thai capital on Friday, May 15, the 24-year-old fighter known to many as “Baby Shark,” was characteristically direct in self-assessing his work.
“[I’d give myself a] 10. Because I did everything. I took him down, passed him, swept, and took the back. I had some submission attempts. Almost somewhat I could choke, or I could take his arm, but he was really good at defending.”
Diogo Reis plots an undisputed world championship run across two divisions
Diogo Reis’ win over Takahashi at ONE Fight Night 43 pushed his career record to a staggering 95-12.
More importantly, it proved that the Brazilian, who had primarily competed at flyweight throughout his career, can be just as menacing at bantamweight.
When asked about the possibility of a two-division takeover in ONE Championship, “Baby Shark” admitted that he’d be more than happy to compete in flyweight and bantamweight.
“I can do both [divisions]. Let’s see about the negotiation, and then we’re gonna choose which division I’m gonna face. For now, I don’t know. I don’t have any names. But I will talk to Tom [DeBlass],” he told ONE.
Reis added, “I think for now, we can make a title shot in bantamweight or a title defense in flyweight. Well, we have two options, and we’re gonna see which is better for me and which is better for the organization.”
Fight fans in the United States and Canada who missed any of the action from ONE Fight Night 43 can watch the full event replay for free on Amazon Prime Video.
Edited by Steffi
