Jean Claude Saclag wouldn’t take a moment to savor his monumental victory on the ONE Friday Fights stage.
Instead, he has chosen to forego celebration and immediately join the training camp in Tagaytay to prepare for the Asian Kickboxing Championships 2024, scheduled from October 6 to 13 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Saclag’s first rodeo with the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas.
He has been the national governing body’s poster boy since 2019, clinching gold medals in three consecutive editions of the Southeast Asian Games.
For Saclag, the duty for flag and country is a call he would answer without hesitation.
“There is no greater honor than fighting for the Philippines. Every time I step into the ring, I carry with me the pride of my people and my country. That’s my motivation,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
The 29-year-old native of Lubuagan, Kalinga has every right to be confident heading into his next assignment.
“The Dynamite” is coming off an unforgettable performance at last week’s ONE Friday Fights 78.
He put the raucous crowd into a frenzy inside the fabled Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with his first-round demolition of South Korea’s Lee Jun Young in a flyweight MMA bout.
Jean Claude Saclag TKOs South Korean foe in ONE Friday Fights debut
Many believed the South Korean’s experience would provide a stiff test for Saclag. However, he had other plans.
Right off the bat, he went on the offensive, launching a relentless barrage of strikes that instantly put his opponent on the back foot.
The decisive moment came when Saclag hammered a crushing overhand right, rendering Lee to sprawl all over the canvas.
Despite Lee’s attempts to recover, Saclag was unrelenting. He followed up with a vicious combination of punches that left his foe defenseless, forcing the referee to intervene and call a halt to the contest.
Saclag may be competing in kickboxing this coming October, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with MMA.
His initial success has already positioned him favorably in ONE Championship’s developmental league, which aims to serve as “the launching pad for rising stars.”
Another impressive showing could help his case of moving closer to a $100,000 contract and a main roster spot – a goal that Saclag feels determined to achieve.
“I’ve always envisioned myself fighting on the biggest stage. I believe this is just the beginning, and I’m ready for whatever comes next,” he stated.
