Former two-division world champion Martin Nguyen believes he can nonetheless cling with the assassin’s row of top-tier expertise in ONE Championship’s ultra-stacked featherweight division.
‘The Situ-Asian’ desires to maintain his footing within the 155-pound ranks’ high 5 with an enormous victory at ONE Combat Night time 7: Lineker vs Andrade II.
This coming Friday, February 24, Nguyen will tackle short-notice opponent Leonardo Casotti inside the long-lasting Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The complete card will air stay on US Primetime and free of charge to Amazon Prime Video subscribers in america and Canada.
Martin Nguyen, who has gone 1-2 after dropping the featherweight belt, acknowledged the stiff degree of competitors within the division he as soon as dominated.
The Kill Cliff FC standout instructed ONE Championship in an unique interview:
“For the champion, it would not actually look as busy. However for the contenders, I imply, we’re all preventing for the primary spot. And Thanh Le’s obtained it in the meanwhile, so regardless, I believe, probably not relying on the place we’re, I reckon whoever finishes fights extra devastatingly in the long run. That is what is going on to promote a battle for the title rivalry.”
Given his struggles as of late, Nguyen has plummeted to the fourth spot within the rankings. The person who unseated him, Thanh Le, continues to be the division’s high contender, adopted by Garry Tonon.
The third spot is occupied by Ilya Freymanov, who knocked out the Vietnamese-Australian fighter in his promotional debut.
In the meantime, Nguyen’s authentic ONE Combat Night time 7 opponent, Shamil Gasanov, is ranked fifth.
Whereas ‘The Situ-Asian’ will now face an unranked opponent, he hopes to construct momentum for a potential world title shot in opposition to the division’s high canine Tang Kai.
We’ll see if Martin Nguyen has yet one more run in him when he faces Casotti at ONE Combat Night time 7.
Martin Nguyen embraces underdog mentality on his path to reclaiming his world title
Even the very best fighters on the planet cope with adversity, and Martin Nguyen will not be letting his unhealthy luck as of late outline his storied profession.
Whereas he might now not be the spring hen he as soon as was, the 33-year-old is aware of he’s obtained much more left within the tank.
Regardless of having as soon as conquered two divisions on the similar time, Nguyen nonetheless sees himself as an underdog with so much to show.
Martin Nguyen made this clear throughout ONE Combat Night time 7’s pre-event interview:
“I have been an underdog my entire life. Life has hit me so onerous, so I do not actually care. On the subject of the percentages and all that in a bout, all I’ve to fret about is me turning up, me having the correct preparation, me having the whole lot set in place for when that bell goes, and it is me versus him, I am going to do no matter it takes to win.”