Before ONE: Battleground III was taped back on July 30, Jenelyn Olsim received a pleasant surprise from the promotion.
ONE shared that the winner of the Olsim-Bi Nguyen will fight on the ONE: Empower card against Grace Cleveland in an alternate bout for the women’s atomweight grand prix.
Of course, the news was an added motivation for the 24-year-old native of Bokod, Benguet.
Photo from ONEFC.com
“Actually nung nagwa-warm up pa lang kami, sinabi na sa amin na lalaban kami ulit sa September 3,” recalled Olsim.
Deadly was Olsim during the first two round of the bout that was aired on Friday evening.
The young gun of Team Lakay showcased an array of submission holds — including an omoplata and a gogoplata attempt — in the opening round while showing crisp striking in the second round.
But in the third round, Olsim faded. Though suffering a huge takedown in the waning moments of the bout, it was all too late for Nguyen as Olsim flat out dominated her during the first 14 minutes and 40 seconds of the bout.
And it showed Olsim what she needs to work on during her build-up for Empower which takes place on September 3.
Photo from ONEFC.com
“After nung match namin ni Bi, napanood ko rin yung laban ko, nakita ko na mas marami pa kong iimprove at mag-sprawl harder lalo na sa wrestling ko. Yun din sinasabi ni Coach Mark (Sangiao) pati yung conditioning ko kailangan ko pa trabahuin,” she said.
“Halatang napagod ako lalo na nung third round.”
Still, Olsim is glad to be part of the historic all-women’s card as she will not just be representing herself and her family but also Team Lakay.
During Empower, she will be fighting also for her sisters-in-arms like Gina Iniong and April Osenio.
“Sobrang importante kasi historical siya na makasama dun sa card na yun. Masaya ako na makakasama din yung team namin.
“Habang pumapalapit yung event hanggang sa kanina, naexcite talaga ako. Very important siya sa akin kasi dream ko talaga maging champion one day,” she shared.
“Eto na rin siguro yung pinakamataas na maachieve sa martial arts. Dream ko talaga na maging champion sa MMA champion,” continued Olsim, who is 5-2 in her young career.
For Sangiao, it doesn’t matter for him whether Olsim makes it to the tournament proper or not.
What’s important is that his fighter will learn a lot by just being part of the event.
Photo from ONEFC.com
“Excited na rin ako kasi everytime na lumalaban si Jenelyn, nakikita ko yung bilis ng improvement niya. Sana mapasali siya sa Grand Prix,” he said.
“Habang lumalapit siya dun, mas bumibilis yung improvement niya. Very eager siya na makapasok sa Grand Prix.”
