Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado was hardly surprised with the performance Senzo Ikeda had at ONE: Heavy Hitters.
With the Filipino forced to pull out due to health and safety protocols, Ikeda had to make a quick pivot and face Elipitua “The Magician” Siregar in the first fight night of 2022.
And as expected, the Pancrase World Champion showed his might against his Indonesian opponent, displaying his educated hands and connecting with devastating body shots to earn a third round knockout win.
It is this game plan which Miado said that his camp anticipated from Ikeda before changes were made in the card.
“I know and I expected those from him. I can say that I’m amazed at how both athletes performed in that match, but I’m certainly impressed with Ikeda,” he said.
“You can see how determined he was to get the win and he really showed his best to win that fight.”
Not only did Ikeda earn that scintillating victory, his performance was also such a standout that he was one of three recipients of the $50,000 bonus from ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. The other two awardees were Saygid Izagakhmaev and Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva.
Miado agreed that Ikeda really deserved the reward with the kind of performance that he delivered.
“He really worked hard for it. You can see his dedication and his fighter spirit in all those three rounds. He never gave up and he really wanted that finish, and he got it,” he said.
That only made Miado all the more pumped to get back to training and hope to be booked anew against Ikeda — an opponent he sees as someone who could really push him to his limits.
“I’m more excited now. We prepared for him and he proved that he’s really a strong fighter. He presents a very interesting challenge for me that I need to get over to progress with my career,” he said. “You can see that he’s really a striker, and that means that we have the same bread and butter. So if ever we get matched up again, I have to really be at my best and strive harder in my training.”
It also fortified Miado’s belief that beating Ikeda could be the springboard he is looking for to be considered as one of the perennial contenders in the strawweight division.
“He proved himself in that fight, all the more that the changes were made at the last minute,” he said.
“For me, I know that I still have a lot to learn and prove here before I can get to my goals of being included in the ONE Athlete Rankings. But it doesn’t mean that I’ll quit that easily. No matter how hard the task is, I can only promise that I will work hard to make it there.”
And if his showing also brings him that $50,000 bonus? That’s just the cherry on top for Miado.
“I’m focused on the fight and everything that comes after that is just a plus. If ever I’ll be given that, I know that will be a big help for my family, for the future of my baby Tobiko. That’s why I can only assure everyone that I will give my best with or without the bonus because all I aspire to is to earn a future title shot,” he said.
“So I just hope that I get a chance to face Senzo soon.”
