ONE Championship’s weekly series will provide another Filipino up-and-comer with an opportunity to strut his stuff under the bright lights.
Jean Claude Saclag suits up for action on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 78, broadcasting live from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand this September 6.
There, he takes on South Korea’s Lee Jun Young in a three-round flyweight MMA bout.
Saclag’s name certainly rings a bell as he’s a bemedalled athlete of the Philippine National Kickboxing Team.
He has clinched gold medals in three consecutive editions of the Southeast Asian Games, dominating the 63.5-kilogram division in the low kick event.
Beyond kickboxing, he has also represented the country in wushu sanda, capturing the top spot in the 60-kilogram category at the 2014 World Cup.
In the same discipline, Saclag copped silver and bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2013 Wushu World Championships, respectively.
Now, the 29-year-old native of Lubuagan, Kalinga aims to carry over that success to the all-encompassing sport.
With a 2-1 MMA record, Saclag is determined to leave a lasting impression and follow in the footsteps of his teammate, Carlo Bumina-ang, who earned a main roster spot and a $100,000 contract through ONE Friday Fights.
However, “The Dynamite” faces a litmus test at the hands of Lee.
Lee has been a mixed martial artist since 2015, amassing a 6-1 slate as an amateur before turning professional in 2021.
The South Korean prospect quickly made his mark in the pro ranks, winning five of his first six assignments — with four victories coming by way of stoppage.
Known by the moniker “Bad Guy,” Lee seeks to live up to his alias as he poses a serious threat to Saclag’s promising trajectory.
