Jeremy Miado flies Philippine flag high in Beijing

There was just no way Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado was going to let the Philippines go home empty-handed in Beijing, China.

Miado stole the show with a thunderous first-round flying-knee knockout win over Miao Li Tao to silence the hometown crowd at the Cadillac Arena in ONE: Age of Dragons on Saturday, November 16.

Earlier that night, Miado’s compatriots fell one by one. Team Lakay’s Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly lost to Tang Kai. Meanwhile, Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales succumbed to “Wolf Of The Grasslands” Hexigetu in the preliminaries.

But that was all the motivation “The Jaguar” needed.

“I had two countrymen who I know wanted to win bad, but unfortunately they fell to their Chinese opponents. That’s why I told myself I’m gonna win for them, and I will raise the Philippine flag high,” Miado said, who improved to 9-4 after the match.

“That was an added motivation for me.”

Months of hard work paid off for “The Jaguar,” who shared that he has been plotting Miao’s downfall for a long time.

Knowing his Chinese foe’s tendencies to shoot for a takedown following a striking exchange, the 26-year-old timed a flying-knee that landed flush on the jaw of Miao and ended the match for good.

“I watched his previous bouts and I noticed the things that he always does. He will throw some combinations, shoot for a takedown, and dominate in the ground. That’s what I prepared for — countering his attacks,” Miado said.

“I worked particularly on two points of attack – my combinations, and the flying knee once he attempts to shoot — and that’s exactly what happened. I’m happy I executed it perfectly.”

While the Switch MMA and Cage Gladiators representative turned heads with the win, he promises that he is far from content.

The strawweight division has become a climbable ladder, and so Miado promises to remain on his heels moving forward.

“I will work harder in training to get better and stronger,” Miado said.

“What I’m doing is for all the people who never stopped believing in me, especially my family.”

ONE Championship returns to the Lion City for one last time this year with ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS next Friday, November 22 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.