Repeated defeats can sometimes break even the most talented athletes, but hard-hitting Filipino lightweight Trestle “Jun Minion” Tan sees it as a blessing in disguise.
Coming off a three-bout losing skid, Tan has another chance to redeem himself when he takes on South Korea’s “The Big Heart” Yoon Chang Min at ONE: Legendary Quest, which emanates from the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai, China on June 15.
Upbeat and brimming with pride to be competing on the global stage once again, the Filipino is taking his losses in stride.
“In mixed martial arts, I see people get disrespected for having a losing streak, but that’s just part of the game,” he said.
”Sometimes you have to lose to see what you can improve on. Sometimes this period of losses is quite long, but it’s a continuous way of learning.”
For Tan, it’s about taking all the positives from those disappointments and using it as fuel to move forward.
“The key is to stay motivated no matter what and to come back with a clear mind every time,” he shared.
“There is always a risk of losing again, but I really can’t wait, and I feel I have to give it my all this time.”
Tan is also full of gratitude to ONE Championship for giving him chance after chance to pick himself up despite a string of losses.
He fell to Agilan “Alligator” Thani and “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park in welterweight match-ups, and then lost to Kimihiro Eto in a lightweight bout.
Although things have been a little rocky for the 34-year-old, he is even more motivated to achieve success knowing the faith the world’s largest martial arts organization is giving him.
“I’m very excited to be fighting at this great event in Shanghai. It’s a huge opportunity for me and another step closer to my dream,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it does not always work out as we envision it, but nonetheless I consider myself lucky. I am very dedicated to showing my best, and fight a great fight. I feel very fortunate to get another opportunity from ONE.”
While he is confident, “Jun Minion” knows the danger Yoon presents.
The South Korean is a talented prospect with a boxing background, and he displayed his knack for submissions when he forced Bala Shetty to tap out via rear-naked choke in his debut earlier in March.
For those reasons, Tan is not taking his adversary for granted.
“My opponent is very strong and should not be underestimated,” he said.
“He comes from a very strong team and I have trained with some of the people there. I know it will be a tough fight, but I have a fair chance of being able to showcase what I can do.”
