Willie Van Rooyen prepares for ONE SAMURAI 3 matchup against Yuya Wakamatsu
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 20, 2026, 2:31 AM
Last updated Aug 20, 2026
Willie Van Rooyen, known as 'White Lion,' faces Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 3 on September 12 in Yokohama, Japan. Van Rooyen, a former two-time EFC Flyweight Champion, looks to build on his recent third-round TKO victory over Jeremy Miado. His nickname reflects a significant comeback in an amateur fight, where he turned the tide despite early adversity. As he enters this pivotal fight, Van Rooyen emphasizes both dominance in the ring and the importance of camaraderie with his team.
- •Willie Van Rooyen holds an 8-1 professional record.
- •The fight takes place at Yokohama Buntai.
- •Van Rooyen recently defeated Jeremy Miado via TKO.
- •His nickname originated from a dramatic comeback in an amateur fight.
- •Van Rooyen aims to establish dominance in ONE Championship.
- 2:31 AMYahoo Sports — ‘The Heart Of A White Lion’ – The Story Behind Willie Van Rooyen’s Fighting Identity
"The South African standout brings his identity into a major clash with Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE SAMURAI 3.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 3:57 AMKevin Vallejos sees UFC title shot opening up with Noche UFC shakeup
UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 3:38 AMJon Jones accuses Daniel Cormier of ‘jealousy’ over UFC GOAT take
UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 3:30 AMYair Rodriguez out of UFC Noche main event, Jean Silva gets new opponent- UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 3:28 AMJosh Hokit trolls Alex Pereira over Ciryl Gane loss, calls for BMF match
- UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 2:58 AMSean Brady says Belal Muhammad loss left him randomly crying
UFC•Aug 20, 2026, 2:00 AMTrent Miller decided to 'send it' with Von Flue choke, hopes to shake bad habit in UFC