Fritz Biagtan’s journey to joining the elite on ONE Championship’s main roster continues this Friday, October 27.
The 28-year-old phenom from Dasmariñas, Cavite is set to square off against India’s Deepak Bhardwaj in a three-round flyweight bout on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 38.
This event takes place at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The stakes are high for “Kid Tornado” as he looks to build upon the momentum he generated in his promotional debut.
Biagtan left a lasting impression this past February when he authored a thunderous third-round knockout of Nurmukhammad Adamkhonov.
Now, as the spotlight once again falls on Biagtan, he is looking to author the perfect follow-up to his previous performance.
He knows that every match is a crucial step towards his ultimate goal of competing at one of the organization’s premium live events in the future.
“That’s the objective when I joined ONE Friday Fights earlier this year—to earn a multi-fight contract under ONE. That’s what I’m aiming for,” Biagtan told Tiebreaker Times.
“So it’s important for me to put on a show every time I compete.”
For Biagtan, his vision extends far beyond just winning fights; it’s also about giving the audience their money’s worth.
“I look at it as if I’m competing in the Colosseum during the ancient times. I imagine myself being in the center of it, and the fans are waiting for something spectacular,” he shared.
“I want people to remember me each time I set foot in there.”
While confidence is a valuable asset for any mixed martial artist, Biagtan is not underestimating his upcoming opponent.
Bhardwaj brings a strong grappling background to the table, and he holds an undefeated record of 2-0.
But despite the stark difference in experience, Biagtan is taking nothing for granted.
“I wouldn’t want to call him my stepping stone because he’s dangerous. I look at it as if we’re equal. I try to look at myself as an underdog with a hungry mindset,” Biagtan stated.
Biagtan is not allowing complacency to creep into his mentality. On the contrary, he sees the encounter opposite Bhardwaj as an opportunity to further showcase his skills.
“I watched some of his fights on YouTube. He’s a very good grappler. Most of his fights are contested on the ground. I expect him to strike for a bit, go for the takedown and control,” the Filipino assessed.
“Now I need to play it smart, but at the same time, I want to put on a good show. I don’t want to put on a boring fight. That’s all I can say.”
As it stands, Biagtan finds himself in a neck-and-neck race with fellow Filipino prospects Carlos Alvarez and Carlo Bumina-ang.
Both Team Lakay members have been making waves on the weekly ONE Friday Fights series.
By defeating Bhardwaj decisively, Biagtan hopes to get a leg up on Alvarez and Bumina-ang.
“I just don’t want to come in there and do my job. I want to come in there and give the fans something to remember, something to talk about. I want fans to remember who Fritz Biagtan is,” he declared.
“One day, I want to be called a legend.”
