Antonio “The Flash” Cesar is fully prepared to make the absolute biggest leap of his young mixed martial arts career.

The surging Brazilian powerhouse will face Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang in a high-stakes flyweight MMA battle at ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video. The blockbuster event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.

[IG BOUT ANNOUNCEMENT EMBED]

Cesar may be new to the global stage, but he arrives in the world’s largest martial arts organization boasting a stellar 13-2 professional record, an eight-fight winning streak, and back-to-back submission finishes. Before he attempts to derail the Filipino veteran’s march toward the flyweight MMA elite, here are five things to know about the promising newcomer.

#1 He Became A Professional Fighter At Just 17

Cesar was born on January 14, 2004, and made his professional MMA debut on October 30, 2021 — more than two months before his 18th birthday.

“The Flash” began his pro tenure with an emphatic second-round TKO victory and quickly returned to competition less than two months later. Although that sophomore appearance produced his first career defeat, Cesar continued competing regularly, remarkably accumulating nine professional bouts before turning 20.

That hyper-active early start completely separates him from many fighters entering the global stage at a similar age.

Cesar will be only 22 when he shares the ring with Adiwang, but he already possesses 15 professional appearances and nearly five years of elite experience. He may be a promotional newcomer, but he is far from a raw prospect taking his first steps under immense pressure.

#2 He Rose Through The Amazonian MMA Scene

Cesar proudly fights out of Manaus — the capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state and a historic cradle for world-class martial artists — where he represents Fight Academy JMF.

Much of his rapid development came through the notoriously shark-tank regional circuit in northern Brazil, where he cut his teeth for premier promotions such as Mr. Cage, Jungle Fight, Arena Strikers Combat, and Coari Champions.

His meteoric rise also took him far beyond local audiences.

In July 2025, Cesar earned a dominant unanimous decision victory at Coari Champions 7, a massive open-air event promoted as one of the largest MMA spectacles of its kind in South America. The card received major national exposure through a live broadcast.

After sharpening his skills close to home, “The Flash” will now carry the pride of Manaus onto the global stage in Bangkok.

#3 He Has Already Experienced Championship Pressure

Despite his youth, Cesar has already competed in high-stakes fights that demanded extreme patience, composure, and the vital ability to perform well beyond the opening exchanges.

In May 2023, the resilient Brazilian completed a grueling five-round championship contest before suffering a narrow unanimous decision defeat. Showing the mindset of a true champion, he rebounded just two months later to capture the Mr. Cage Interim Flyweight Championship.

Capturing regional gold at only 19 years old provided Cesar with invaluable, mature experience long before his ONE Championship debut. He has learned exactly how to manage the intense emotions surrounding a title fight, respond positively after a difficult result, and maintain his tactical effectiveness against opponents prepared for an extended war.

That deep stamina could prove crucial against Adiwang, whose explosive starts and sudden bursts of offense have ended each of his past two contests inside the very first round.

#4 His Eight-Fight Streak Shows An Expanding Skill Set

Cesar has not tasted defeat since May 2023. His current eight-fight winning streak has featured victories by decision, knockout, and submission across multiple Brazilian promotions, proving he can seamlessly prevail through any phase of an MMA contest.

Most recently, “The Flash” has become particularly dangerous once he successfully claims an opponent’s back.

He brilliantly submitted two consecutive opponents with rear-naked chokes within just a two-month span in 2026, earning a swift first-round finish in March before securing another tap in the third frame of his April appearance. Those clinical results paved his direct path to the global roster.

Cesar also placed third in the advanced adult division at a prestigious beach-wrestling competition in Manaus, another clear indicator of the elite grappling base he brings into his matchup with Adiwang.

#5 Nobody Has Finished Him In Professional MMA

Perhaps the most impressive statistic attached to Cesar’s name is that his two lone professional defeats both came strictly via the judges’ scorecards. Across 15 career appearances, the Brazilian has never been knocked out or submitted, despite competing through multiple three-round wars and a grueling five-round battle.

That durability will face its ultimate examination at ONE Fight Night 45.

Adiwang enters the matchup with an 18-6 professional record and a staggering 75 percent finishing rate. Since leaving the strawweight division behind, “Thunder Kid” has looked absolutely unstoppable, scoring consecutive first-round TKOs against Mauro “Dinamita” Mastromarini and Eko Roni Saputra.

Cesar must therefore withstand the fastest and most dangerous phase of the Filipino’s opening attack while systematically searching for opportunities to impose his own lethal grappling game.

At ONE Fight Night 45, Adiwang will try to become the first athlete to stop “The Flash,” while Cesar looks to extend his eight-fight winning streak with an unforgettable promotional debut.

Source

Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang has received a new assignment for his rapid return to action.

The Filipino fan favorite will now welcome Brazilian newcomer Antonio “The Flash” Cesar in a flyweight MMA contest at ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.

Adiwang was initially scheduled to face Joshua “Flyin Hawaiian” Perreira, but he will instead meet a dangerous new arrival carrying significant momentum into his promotional debut.

The matchup adds another compelling MMA battle to an event headlined by the featherweight Muay Thai collision between Luke “The Chef” Lessei and “The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah.

Adiwang spent much of his ONE Championship tenure competing at strawweight, where his speed, explosive wushu attacks, and knockout power made him one of the division’s most recognizable threats.

But since leaving the weight class behind, “Thunder Kid” has looked virtually unstoppable.

The Soma Fight Club representative made his flyweight debut against Mauro “Dinamita” Mastromarini at ONE Fight Night 37 last November. After darting in and out of range, Adiwang landed a heavy left hook and followed with ground strikes to secure a TKO in the opening round.

He moved up in weight for his next appearance against Indonesian Wrestling Champion Eko Roni Saputra at ONE Fight Night 43 this past May, but the result was even more emphatic.

Adiwang stormed forward with heavy hooks, hurt Saputra in the opening exchange, and unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches to force the stoppage after only 34 seconds.

Following that dominant performance, the 33-year-old made it clear that his future lies in the flyweight MMA division and that he wants to test himself against its leading contenders.

Now armed with consecutive first-round TKOs, 18 career victories, and a 75 percent finishing rate, Adiwang has established himself as a legitimate threat in his new division.

Another convincing performance on July 17 would extend his winning streak to three, strengthen his growing case for a major flyweight matchup, and bring him another step closer to the World Title opportunity he has long pursued.

However, the Filipino veteran must first overcome a hungry newcomer who has been building his own impressive run in Brazil.

Cesar Brings Eight-Fight Winning Streak To ONE

Cesar will arrive on the global stage with a 13-2 professional record and eight consecutive victories.

The 22-year-old Brazilian has steadily developed his skills on the South American circuit, showing the ability to maintain a strong pace over three rounds while becoming increasingly dangerous on the canvas.

That evolution has been particularly clear in his two most recent appearances.

“The Flash” submitted two opponents with rear-naked chokes within just two months in 2026, extending his winning streak to eight and paving the way to the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Rather than receiving a gradual introduction to ONE, the Brazilian will immediately face a battle-tested opponent with years of experience against elite competition.

A victory over Adiwang would extend Cesar’s streak to nine, introduce his name to a global audience, and instantly establish him as one of the most intriguing new additions to the flyweight MMA ranks.

For Adiwang, the challenge is equally significant.

The Filipino has rebuilt his momentum with two spectacular finishes and now wants to turn that resurgence into a serious march toward the divisional summit. But Cesar represents precisely the type of ambitious new blood who can disrupt those plans with one breakthrough performance.

When they meet at ONE Fight Night 45, Adiwang’s explosive experience will collide with Cesar’s youthful momentum and growing submission arsenal in a high-stakes flyweight battle.

Source