Joshua Perreira, whose six professional wins all concluded before the final bell, plans to extend this streak against Antonio Cesar. The undefeated Hawaiian fighter anticipates a finish beginning with a hook near the ropes.
Perreira will face Antonio “The Flash” Cesar in a flyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 48 on Prime Video, airing live from Bangkok, Thailand. Perreira, 29, holds a 6-0 (1 NC) record with four knockouts and two submissions. He recently returned from a knee injury to stop Gilbert Nakatani in 38 seconds with a spinning backfist.
Cesar, 22, enters the fight with a 14-2 record and a nine-fight winning streak, including his ONE debut win over Lito Adiwang via unanimous decision in July. Perreira envisions his finishing sequence starting with a hook.
“I think, as he’s circling out, it’ll be a right or a left hook if he circles to either side up against the ropes,” Perreira explained. “I’ll shift forward to another stance. I’ll catch him with that hook. I think it’ll stumble him, not necessarily knock him out, but I see it hurting him to the point where I follow him to the ground.”
He added, “If he’s able to defend my strikes, I’m going to try to establish a solid position, rain shots down, and if the submission – whatever that may be – presents itself, I will secure it. And like a vice grip, I will get him.”
A victory over the current-form Cesar could position Perreira for a title shot, though he is also looking ahead to a potential bout with former champion Yuya Wakamatsu.
“I think that’d be fantastic, even more of a step up in competition,” Perreira said of facing Wakamatsu. “He’s an elusive striker with solid grappling. And a win over him would cement me as next in line for the title.”
Perreira concluded, “Who knows? I’m just happy to be doing what I love, being a complete martial artist and showing my skills on the world stage.”
