Bianca Basilio promises to finish Nanami Ichikawa at ONE Fight Night 22

Bianca Basilio sees her next outing as a chance to redeem herself on the global stage.

The Brazilian star competes in a 132-pound catchweight submission grappling match against Nanami Ichikawa at ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event airs live in U.S. primetime from Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, May 3.

Basilio’s credentials speak volumes about her prowess on the mats. She’s a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion and ADCC World Champion.

Her ONE Championship debut in November 2022 was nothing short of spectacular. There, she dispatched Milena Sakumoto with a lightning-fast submission in under a minute.

However, her subsequent encounter with American BJJ black belt Tammi Musumeci resulted in a hard-fought decision loss. This setback has only fueled Basilio’s hunger for redemption.

Now, the 28-year-old plans to achieve it in the most emphatic way possible.

“I don’t know Ichikawa, but I know she will be prepared for the fight, just as I will be ready to submit her,” Basilio said.

“It’s a fight that has no points, it’s a submission-only, so I’ll prepare to finish the fight that way. I believe that when you enter a battle, you have to be ready, and I will be.”

While Ichikawa may not boast the same accolades on paper, Basilio refuses to underestimate her.

Aware of her opponent’s formidable guard-passing skills, she enters the matchup with a mix of respect and determination.

Basilio acknowledges the potential challenges but remains confident in her ability to emerge victorious in what promises to be an entertaining battle.

“I watched some of her fights and saw that she plays more by passing guard than by doing guard. So, it’s going to be a very good war, because I like to do guard, but I also pass guard,” the Almeida Jiu Jitsu product said.

“I work well on takedowns, and that’s why I believe it will be a good fight. But I’m going to submit her in the fight.”

Bianca Basilio looks to utilize mental toughness

Beyond the physical aspects of her game, Bianca Basilio possesses a unique edge that she believes sets her apart from her Japanese foe.

“I believe that my biggest advantage, besides being technically and physically prepared, is that I have a very good mentality. This is one of my differences. I have a very good mentality to take on this fight,” she said.

“And I believe that when you have the right mindset, nothing can stop you.”