Willie van Rooyen Ready to Carry South Africa’s Spirit at ONE SAMURAI 3

South African MMA fighter Willie van Rooyen is preparing for the biggest challenge of his professional career as he gets set to face former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 3.

The highly anticipated flyweight bout is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan. Van Rooyen enters the contest with an impressive 8-1 professional record and a 75 percent finishing rate in his victories.

For the 23-year-old fighter, however, the upcoming contest is about much more than statistics. Van Rooyen believes he represents the fighting mentality of South Africa every time he steps into the ring.

Willie van Rooyen embraces South African fighting spirit

Known as the “White Lion,” van Rooyen believes South African fighters possess a mentality that can make them particularly difficult opponents. He says giving up is simply not part of their mindset when victory is within reach.

“For South Africans, when people find out they fight a South African, they need to know they are in for a war, because we don’t really give up,” van Rooyen told ONE Championship.

The A-Team Stars fighter also explained that South African competitors are prepared to push beyond their physical limits when chasing victory.

“We will always go beyond our limits in order to finish a fight or get that victory. We are willing to make big sacrifices to get that victory,” he added.

Van Rooyen sees representing South Africa on an international stage as a significant responsibility. Rather than feeling pressured by that expectation, he considers it an honor to carry his country’s name into competition.

“They must know when they fight someone from South Africa, they are in for massive fights and war. For me, to be a fighter for South Africa, to represent the country is already a massive honor,” he said.

Van Rooyen faces former ONE champion Yuya Wakamatsu

The challenge awaiting van Rooyen in Japan is substantial. Standing opposite him will be Yuya Wakamatsu, a former ONE flyweight MMA world champion with considerable experience at the highest level of the promotion.

Wakamatsu, known as “Little Piranha,” has competed against some of the strongest fighters in the ONE Championship flyweight division. His experience could make the September 12 matchup a major test of van Rooyen’s skills, composure and preparation.

Van Rooyen’s 8-1 professional record shows that he has already established himself as a promising talent. His 75 percent finishing rate also highlights his ability to end fights rather than simply rely on decisions.

Against an experienced former champion, however, the South African will need to combine his aggressive mentality with discipline and tactical execution.

Willie van Rooyen values respect and sportsmanship

Despite describing himself as a fighter who embraces the intensity of competition, van Rooyen insists that his aggressive approach inside the ring does not define how he treats his opponents outside it.

The 23-year-old places considerable importance on humility, respect and sportsmanship. For him, those qualities are essential parts of being a successful fighter and a good person.

“I’ll always be a humble guy, always show respect to my opponents, because to me, having that respect and sportsmanship is an important skill in life,” he told ONE Championship.

That combination of competitive intensity and respect could be central to van Rooyen’s identity as he continues his rise in MMA.

What to expect from ONE SAMURAI 3

Van Rooyen’s clash with Wakamatsu is set to provide a major opportunity for the South African flyweight to demonstrate how far he has progressed in his professional career.

With an 8-1 record, a strong finishing rate and the motivation of representing South Africa, van Rooyen will enter the bout with plenty of confidence. Wakamatsu’s championship experience, meanwhile, provides a significant test of the young fighter’s ability to perform against elite opposition.

The bout at Yokohama Buntai could therefore become an important moment in van Rooyen’s development and potentially a stepping stone toward bigger opportunities in ONE Championship.

For the “White Lion,” the mission is clear: represent South Africa with pride, compete with respect and refuse to give up.