Marwin Quirante may have found himself back at square one, but after his electrifying performance at last week’s ONE Friday Fights 84, he seems unlikely to stay there for long.
“The Green Goblin” left an indelible impression at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where he demolished Phan Thanh Tung in a strawweight MMA clash.
He had the Vietnamese bruiser completely under control during the first round, fending off every takedown attempt and lighting him up with crisp striking combinations.
When Quirante finally decided to engage on the ground, he maintained dominance, raining down ferocious blows from the top that nearly ended the contest.
The damage from Quirante’s relentless attack proved too much for Phan, who chose not to answer the bell for the second round, effectively conceding the match.
With this commanding win, the 21-year-old Marawi native advanced his record to 5-1, snaring his third consecutive finish.
While he’s now basking in the triumph of his ONE Friday Fights debut, Quirante entered this bout under a cloud of skepticism. He and his team had made a tough decision regarding his career path.
It’s important to note that this weekly event series serves as an entry point into ONE Championship, where the majority of its competitors are vying for a $100,000 contract and a chance to join the promotion’s main roster.
On paper, the Filipino prospect was in a favorable position prior to getting a call to ply his trade under the ONE Friday Fights banner.
He had been a frontrunner for the inaugural Zeus Combat League flyweight championship after defeating Aaron Posawen at the local upstart organization’s debut offering this past May.
Just three months later, Quirante attracted a significant offer from BRAVE Combat Federation when the Bahrain-based outfit staged a fight card in Lahore, Pakistan.
There, he stole the show, knocking out Awan Aqib in just 18 seconds with a front kick to the chin.
Right there and then, BRAVE CF extended Quirante a guaranteed deal for three bouts over two years.
While this opportunity promised significant financial gain and increased exposure abroad, he and his management felt it wasn’t in his best interest.
“Actually, we were given a good offer from BRAVE. But it was only for three fights in two years. So, we didn’t take it. Fortunately, ONE suddenly reached out to us,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
Quirante acknowledged that making this choice was difficult, but those around him emphasized the importance of staying active over the uncertainty of when he would next compete.
“We prefer that I get to fight continuously because there’s no guarantee how often I can compete in BRAVE. I would end up being inactive, and that’s not an option,” he said.
Although he must rebuild his momentum, Quirante was undeterred. In fact, this situation motivated him to put forth a stellar outing in his ONE Friday Fights debut.
“My motivation in MMA isn’t money. Of course, I earn as I succeed in this sport. But what I truly aim for is to win the title, like those that [Eduard] Folayang has achieved. That symbolizes that you are a true warrior. If fate allows, I want to achieve that here,” he stated.
With such an impressive showing, there’s no denying that Quirante is on the right path. And if he continues to deliver head-turning exploits, it won’t be long before he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with ONE’s elite.
