Leandro Ataides on Yushin Okami Fight and Violent Resolutions

Leandro Ataides tests skills against Yushin Okami at ONE: Heavy Hitters on January 14th.

The former has a fairly violent new years resolution relating to the latter and Ataides’ comments were spread via ONE social media.

Can Leandro Ataides make good on his New Year's resolution next Friday at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS? 👀 @LeAtaides1 #ONEHeavyHitters #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/YUoXqrfXD3

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) January 3, 2022

In the video above, Leo stated his new year’s resolution is, “To unleash a highlight-reel KO on Okami and send him to retirement”.

Leandro Ataides‘ last trip into the ONE Circle saw him fall via KO to Aung La N Sang at ONE: Battleground in July. He aims to return to the win column in a big way and advance within the hierarchy of the middleweight division once more.

Ataides versus Okami pits a former ONE middleweight title challenger against a former UFC middleweight championship contender. The winner of this will position themselves well to potentially contend for the ONE middleweight title presently held by Reinier de Ridder.

Leandro Ataides

While the ONE Championship tweet could seem oriented towards talking trash, Leandro Ataides does seem to have a fair bit of respect for the skillset and overall combative career of Yushin Thunder Okami.

In a recent chat with ONE Championship, with transcription courtesy of onefc.com, Ataides said, “He’s a legend who has fought with the biggest names from Brazil. So for me, it’s going to be a big honor. I really respect him, so I’m excited to fight him. Can’t wait for the day to come. I can win this fight. Feel really positive inside because I have improved myself, and I will do my best.”

“Okami doesn’t have one style. He has so many styles in his fights. He is a complete fighter – good striking, good grappling, good everywhere. We don’t know what we can expect in this fight, so I just have to go into him and do my best. This time, I really want to use my BJJ game. I always want to show this, but now I really put 100 percent into it. Because this is my background, my natural reaction, what I grew up with.”

“I might have to set him up with my striking to take him down. But if he takes me down, I feel really fine with that. I can work very well and control the fight with my BJJ. I’m going to submit him, and it’ll be finished by the second round or the end of the first round. I see that. But you never know – with two big guys and the big show, anything can happen.”

What are your thoughts on Leandro Ataides’ comments ahead of the Yushin Okami fight at ONE: Heavy Hitters?

Dylan Bowker

I've been enamored with combat sports for as long as I can remember. I've hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, Mark Coleman, and more. I've been an MMA broadcaster for XFFC as well as BTC and have done play by play commentary on live pay per view on GFL as well as FITE TV. I've provided written, audio, and video content covering some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage. I've worked as a sports entertainment personality for over five years and given play-by-play or featured promotions of KSW, ONE Championship, TKO, and Invicta FC. My work can be found in the USA Today Sports affiliate MMA Torch, Cageside Press, MMA Sucka, and Liberty Multimedia.

See Full Bio