ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix finalist Danny “The King” Kingad will test himself for the first time this year when he returns to action at ONE: Fire and Fury, and the Team Lakay standout is confident about getting a huge win in front of his compatriots.
On January 31 at the Mall Of Asia Arena, the 24-year-old takes on Chinese knockout artist Xie “The Hunter” Wei in the main card of ONE Championship’s first event in Manila this year.
Xie will make his main roster debut after collecting five straight wins in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series in 2019. Kingad, though, is confident that he has the tools to overcome his hard-hitting foe.
“I saw his previous bouts and he was really impressive. It’s not easy winning five straight. He’s got the power and the skills, and he definitely deserves his spot in the big league,” Kingad said.
“But I have a mission to accomplish this year, and I am ready to take on whichever test they give me, especially in my first assignment back against Xie,” he continued.
“I’ll show how eager I am to get back to title contention.”
“The King” has been preparing thoroughly for this match since ONE made it official. While he acknowledges the danger that Xie presents, he believes his experience and his more rounded skill set will be the keys to victory.
Just last October at ONE: Century Part I, “The King” came off the biggest bout of his career when he battled Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final. Then, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to the 12-time World Champion.
Though the match did not go his way, Kingad is much more confident now after facing the greatest to ever fight in his division.
“I am very thankful because I’ve faced the best Flyweights here in ONE Championship. It is definitely a big part of my growth as an athlete. I’ve faced [Adriano] Moraes, who is good in the ground; [Yuya] Wakamatsu, who is a power puncher; and Demetrious Johnson, who is super athletic and is good in all areas of the game,” Kingad said.
“I’ve learned a lot from those matches, and it’s going to be a big help for my preparation for Xie. I have a lot of respect for Xie, but I believe my skills and experience will bring me the victory.”
Expectations are high for the Kingad, especially since he has already established himself in the loaded flyweight division of The Home Of Martial Arts.
For “The King”, he promises to live up to the expectations.
“I know he is strong, but I am confident in my striking. I want to show that I am a whole lot more explosive now, and at the same time, a whole lot smarter,” he said.
“I’ll do everything to get the win on January 31.”
ONE Championship returns to martial arts action on January 10 for ONE: A NEW TOMORROW at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Catch all the action live and for free on the ONE Super App.
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