Flyweight MMA Star Danny Kingad has been yearning for a shot at gold for much of his seven-year tenure in ONE Championship, and he feels the opportunity will be closer than ever if he can score a win next week.
The No. 3-ranked divisional contender is set to take on former king Adriano Moraes at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Saturday, November 9, at Bangkok, Thailand’s famed Lumpinee Stadium, in what will be a rematch of their 2017 encounter.
The ONE flyweight MMA world title has been vacant since Demetrious Johnson relinquished it when he announced his retirement at ONE 168 this past September, and Kingad wants to show he’s worthy of fighting for the crown when he meets Moraes.
“It’s an exciting time in the flyweight division. It’s wide open. I feel blessed that I’m still close to getting there, and it gives me the motivation to beat Adriano and maybe get the chance to compete for the vacant World Title,” the Filipino phenom said.
“I think this fight is the way to get that World Title shot after seven long years. I’m motivated. The World Title is there for the taking, and I’m eyeing it.”
When Kingad debuted in ONE Championship in 2015, he turned heads with back-to-back finishes of Muhamad Hadair and Eugene Toquero.
All eight of his victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization have come by unanimous decision since then, which is something that bothers the Filipino star as he knows he’s got the skills to be a fight finisher.
So, with the stakes higher than ever for his return at ONE 169, he wants to recapture the magic of his first two outings and end proceedings before the final bell.
“It’s in my mind now to start finishing fights. In each fight that I don’t finish my opponent, it bothers me, and all I can do is to ask my coaches, go back to the drawing board, and continue to learn,” Kingad said.
“This is going to be a great fight. I’m looking for that knockout win. I’m going to get my hand raised.”
