Jenelyn Olsim believes she is ready to take on Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen whether their upcoming clash ends up on the ground or feet.
The pair will collide in a crucial atomweight clash at the previously recorded ONE: BATTLEGROUND III, which airs this Friday, 27 August, from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Olsim is known as a striker, given her Muay Thai background and connection to the fabled Team Lakay squad. Still, she has shown skills on the ground, especially after submitting Maira Mazar in her debut in May.
So don’t feel surprised to see the 24-year-old favor grappling in this match.
“I got so much confidence from that match when it comes to grappling. Before that match, you wouldn’t normally see me going for takedowns. But the moment we hit the ground, I realized I was comfortable there,” Olsim said.
“[I found out] that I can hang with some of the best grapplers. It also made my mentality tougher, particularly when the going gets tough.”
It was actually surprising to see Olsim’s evolution from a strong striker in ONE Warrior Series, to someone who looks confident rolling on the canvas with an experienced grappler in her main roster debut.
For the Bokod, Benguet native, her move to Team Lakay made all the difference in molding her into a more complete fighter.
“When I moved to Team Lakay, I really polished my grappling. Since I came from a Muay Thai background, they asked me to focus on grappling and wrestling more. The feedback has been good, and they’ve been saying that I’m a fast learner,” she said.
“Actually, that submission win I got from Mazar, it was the same exact drill that we’ve been doing during training, so that’s why I got it.”
For Olsim, her newfound comfort on the ground could very well be the key in beating Nguyen and earning a spot in the historic ONE: EMPOWER. Grace “Thai Kitten” Cleveland awaits the winner of this bout in the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix alternate bout.
“One of her weaknesses is that she tends to get overpowered, especially when the match hits the ground. That’s why I believe we’re also at an advantage when we hit the ground. I wouldn’t want to be complacent because this is MMA — anything can happen. One thing I can promise is I will be at my best,” Olsim said.
“I expect Bi to be confident because she’s also coming off a win, but I’m coming off a win myself, and I’m confident with my skills. I expect this to be a grind. Let’s see who blinks first.”
Catch the previously recorded ONE: BATTLEGROUND III this Friday, 27 August, at 8:30 p.m. on One Sports and One Sports+. It will air simultaneously on the ONE Super App.
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