Jeremy Miado and Lito Adiwang may have fought each other in the past, but there is no denying that both men have a great deal of respect for one another.
In fact, Miado is rooting for Adiwang in his return to action on Friday.
The 26-year-old Baguio City native squares off with Indonesia’s Adrian Mattheis in a three-round strawweight encounter on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 34, which takes place at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The history between the two Filipino mixed martial artists dates back to March 2022 when they engaged in a memorable yet controversial battle that ended by way of an injury stoppage in favor of Miado.
Adiwang tore his ACL midway through the second round of the matchup, an unfortunate turn of events that led to his prolonged absence from competition.
Now, the time has come for Adiwang to rekindle his professional career, and Miado stands firmly in his corner.
His confidence in Adiwang’s preparedness is rooted in firsthand accounts from his training partners at Southside MMA Thailand.
During Adiwang’s visit to the gym, Miado received glowing feedback about his former opponent’s condition.
“They say he’s not just mentally prepared, but he’s also physically fit to report for duty. That’s what they’re saying, and I’m super stoked for his first fight in 18 months,” Miado told Tiebreaker Times.
Moreover, “The Jaguar” commends Adiwang for taking the bold step of leaving his comfort zone, exemplified by his decision to leave Team Lakay in April to train overseas.
“Don’t get me wrong, Team Lakay is a great team. But now, Lito is exposed to different fighting styles and methodologies of training. I think it’s beneficial on his part, especially since he’s coming off a long layoff,” the former ranked strawweight contender said.
Miado anticipates a high-octane duel when Adiwang faces off against Mattheis this Friday,
Both men are known for their striking prowess and have sent many opponents to the canvas with their thunderous blows.
Miado, however, sees a signficant edge for Adiwang as he expects “Thunder Kid” to utilize his grappling skills to secure a submission victory over Mattheis.
“It’s going to be a hard-hitting fight. But I see Lito winning by submission in this fight. I just have this feeling that he’s going to do things differently,” Miado stated.
