Yamato Nishikawa: Japan’s newest MMA sensation

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19-year-old MMA fighter Yamato Nishikawa has just been signed by UFC and will make his debut in the lightweight division at the UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. The Japanese fighter is set to take on MagomedMustafaev, who was supposed to fight Jamie Mullarkey. The veteran’s last fight was against Brad Riddell in 2020 and lost.

However, Nishikawa is no amateur. He has already amassed significant professional experience, having fought 30 fights in various events such as the Shooto, P4P FC, and Grachan. Having debuted at the age of 13, Nishikawa’s record includes 21 wins, three losses, and six draws. He also has an impressive finish rate of 86%, with 14 wins obtained by a knock-out and 4 others by submission and has also headlined several events.

Nishikawa is currently on an unbeaten 14-match streak and is gearing up to garner an international fan following with his UFC debut. The UFC is also seeking to sign young fighters, and Nishikawa is the second teenager to be recruited after 17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr., who is also the youngest fighter in UFC history.

Rosas Jr. made his mark after completing five finishes in five fights at the UWC Mexico. He was then offered a chance to fight at the Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), where he was signed after his debut fight against Mando Gutierrez. The third youngest fighter (after 19-year-old Nishikawa) is the 20-year-old IasminLucindo.