When Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang heard of his first match in the ONE Championship main roster, he was naturally surprised and ecstatic.
After all, he did not expect to compete in the biggest martial arts event in history just three months after he won the lucrative six-figure contract at Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series 7 on 6 August.
Now he faces Pancrase Flyweight World Champion Senzo Ikeda in ONE: Century on October 13 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.
“I was wowed when I first heard that I got the match,” Adiwang shared.
“This is perfect timing for me. It’s my debut in the big league and it happens to be in the biggest event of ONE. I’m really happy.”
Adiwang knows that he is in for a rough match as he takes on Ikeda, who is known to pack power in his hands – evident when he stopped Yuya Wakamatsu.
But his focus rests on himself, as he looks to impose his will on the 37-year-old to neutralize his power.
“We’re not really fixated on [Ikeda’s strengths]. Our focus is on how I’ll be putting pressure on my opponent and how I’ll impose my game,” Adiwang said.
“We expect his power. He’s heavier, so the strategy is putting as much pressure on him in the fight.”
The 26-year-old admits he felt pressure to make his official debut in The Home Of Martial Arts.
But as he prepares for the match, that pressure slowly turned into excitement.
“Of course there’s pressure. It’s ONE’s biggest event, and it’s my opponent’s hometown so there’s definitely pressure,” he added.
“But as days go by, it slowly dissipates. I’m beginning to focus on what I need to do, and I definitely won’t be affected with his hometown advantage.”
Now with a chance to make an introduction to the entire world with an impressive performance, Adiwang vows not to disappoint.
“Fans can expect an explosive and thunderous Adiwang,” he promised.
“I’ll give everything cause it’s my debut. I will give my best and impress them. I want to give back to the fans by putting on a good show.”
ONE: Century is the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history. No organization has ever promoted two full-scale World Championship events in one day.
But The Home Of Martial Arts breaks new ground as 28 World Champions compete in multiple World Title bouts; three World Grand Prix Championship Finals; and several World Champion versus World Champion matches at the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 13 in Tokyo, Japan.
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