Tag Archives: ONE Championship

Cheon Sera might very well be the ultimate girl next door. The former girl scout went from looking as cute as a button in her brown uniform to sizzling up TV screens across Asia as a ONE Championship Ring Girl, and it’s all thanks to her incredible work ethic, toned physique, and dazzlingly sweet smile.

A huge fan of mixed martial arts, once Sera learned that ONE Championship was seeking Ring Girls, she applied immediately, easily clinching the position with her stellar credentials.

Before her celebrated visage was seen by 1 billion people across 118 countries on ONE Championship’s global broadcast, Sera made a name for herself as a dancer and fan-favorite race queen who turned heads wherever she went. She has even appeared several times in Korean and Hong Kong music videos, soap operas, and movies, proving her inherent star power.

Sera graduated from college with a degree in Beauty, enabling her to do her own hair, makeup, and costumes. She enjoys knitting and drawing in her free time, and is a huge fan of horror movies, having seen almost every one possible.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the official ONE: ETERNAL GLORY Open Workout & Face-Off at the Syena Martial Arts Center on 16 January. In attendance were ONE Championship athletes set to participate in the blockbuster card at Istora Senayan on 19 January.

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of Baguio City, Philippines and ONE World Title Challenger Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta of Japan graced fans and media in attendance with a world-class martial arts skills demonstration.

ONE Athletes Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, Puja Tomar, Stefer Rahardian, Robin Catalan, Anthony Engelen, and Kwon Won Il followed suit with their skills demonstrations alongside their respective coaches.

Joshua Pacio, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated:

“I feel I am at my best right now. After a tremendous training camp, I’m ready to step up to the plate and defend my title. This World Title means everything to me. It represents all the hard work that me and my team have put in. Now it’s time to reap the fruits of our labor. Coach Mark [Sangiao] has come up with a great game plan for me and I will do my best to execute it. Yosuke [Saruta] is a very dangerous opponent and I am not taking him lightly. I have prepared for the toughest challenge of my career, and I plan to showcase the best version of Joshua Pacio in the fight.”

Yosuke Saruta, ONE World Title Challenger, stated:

“First of all, I would like to thank ONE Championship for the opportunity to challenge for the ONE Strawweight World Championship. It is certainly an honor. When I made my debut a few months ago, I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to prove to the world that I am ready for a title shot immediately. That is what I have done and now we are here. I am confident that at the end of the night, I will leave the arena with my hands raised in victory and with the World Title around my waist. Joshua Pacio is a great champion, but I feel I have the tools necessary to defeat him. It’s going to be an interesting matchup. I vow to give my best performance.”

ONE: ETERNAL GLORY emanates from the iconic Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday, 19 January. In the main event, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines will defend his title against Yosuke “Tobizaru” Saruta of Japan.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Lucky Mizili (Yoon Mijin) started her career in 2012 through singing in a project girl group called Highlady, which composed of models. In the next two years, she worked as a racing model for two years with the Kumho Tire, a famous Korean tire company. Following that, she branched out and worked as a motorshow model in China and the U.S., raising her as well as Korea’s presence in the modelling industry.

Ever since 2017, Mijin has been a regular face at ONE Championship as a Ring Girl.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the official ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS Media Party last Thursday, 22 November at Ours Eatery at Damansara City Mall. The event was held in anticipation of the blockbuster event, ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, which takes place at the Axiata Arena on Friday, 7 December. Photos of the event can be downloaded here.

Some of the ONE Championship athletes attending the ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS Media Party were Agilan “Alligator” Thani, Keanu Subba, Gianni Subba, Peter Davis, Ann “Athena” Osman, Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan, Saiful “The Vampire” Merican, and Mohammed Bin Mahmoud.

Ticket information for ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS is available at www.onefc.com.

Former ONE Welterweight World Title challenger Agilan Thani is one of the most remarkable athletes Malaysia has ever produced. Ever since making his debut, the man they call “Alligator” has torn through the competition. Unbeaten as an amateur, Thani captured a Malaysian national championship before turning professional, winning six bouts in a row on the global stage of ONE Championship to earn a shot at the title. The top contender trains daily at Monarchy MMA in Kuala Lumpur but also regularly travels to the United States to sharpen his skills at the world-famous Team Quest. His next opponent is Kiamrian Abbasov.

Gianni Subba has forged a reputation as one of the most exciting talents to watch in the ONE cage. He spent his childhood growing up in both Hawaii and his mother’s hometown of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, but he left at the age of 16 to finish his education in Salt Lake City, Utah. While in the United States, he learned to wrestle. In 2010, he decided to move back to Malaysia in order to pursue his dreams as a professional mixed martial artist. Since then, he has defeated several former world title challengers to cement his place at the top of a stacked flyweight division. He takes on Ma Hao Bin in his next assignment.

Former Wushu World Champion and MIMMA Women’s Champion Jihin “Shadowcat” Radzuan is one of the finest female martial artists to emerge from Malaysia. Her first exposure to martial arts was a brief stint training in silat when she was six years old. She soon discovered Ultimate MMA Academy, and after just three months of training, she competed in Muay Thai for the first time. Driven by a hunger to compete, she followed that up with bouts in wushu, BJJ, kickboxing, and boxing, capturing a wushu world championship along the way. She joined ONE Championship in March 2018, and has since put together two impressive victories. Radzuan resumes her ascent through the ranks by facing Jenny Huang.

Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Mahmoud is a professional martial artist from Malaysia set to make his ONE Super Series debut. The 22-year-old went undefeated as an amateur, before turning professional, amassing a 50-7 record. Along the way, Mahmoud has won multiple titles, including the PLG Tournament Championship and MuayFight Championship, among others. He now finds his way to the bright lights of ONE Championship and looks to make a name for himself amongst the world’s best strikers. In his first outing for the promotion, Mahmoud takes on Stergos Mikkios.

Agilan Thani, ONE Athlete, stated: 

“I think my opponent (Kiamrian Abbasov) is pretty tough. He went three rounds with Luis Santos. He has pretty awkward footwork and I think he’s a tough dude. I’m looking forward to fighting him. I’ve been preparing as usual, like how I always do. So expect a lot of the same action and explosiveness from me. I always come to fight and I never back down from any challenge. I’m looking forward to the match.”

Gianni Subba, ONE Athlete, stated:

“I think Ma Hao Bin is a young and strong opponent. He has great cardio and is very aggressive. My preparation for the fight has been good. I have split my time between Kuala Lumpur and Bali, working on everything. My opponent is very tough, so I’ve worked on all areas of my game, wrestling, and BJJ. I worked a lot on my cardio as well. I want to push the pace in this fight and look for a finish.”

Jihin Radzuan, ONE Athlete, stated: 

“Facing a former World Title challenger, I think it’s a good test for me. She (Jenny Huang) has good grappling skills, so it will be interesting to see how we match up together on the ground. I am proud to represent Malaysia on the biggest global stage of competition. Doing what I love to do, I am very lucky. I am working very hard at improving my skills so I can make my fans and my country proud.”

Mohammed Bin Mahmoud, ONE Athlete, stated: 

“I’ve seen a couple of his (Stergos Mikkios) fights and he is a great athlete. His boxing and low kicks are very good but I’m confident I can handle what he has in store for me. I’m a more technical athlete, and whenever I start a fight I always attack very patiently. For my first battle, I want to bring the knockout home. This is the biggest ever match in my career and better still in my hometown, Kuala Lumpur. I want the best knockout of the night and make my country proud.”

ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS is set for the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, 7 December. The card features a series of top Malaysian athletes, as well as the absolute best in international martial arts talent. In the main event, Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex of Thailand takes on Luis Regis of Australia in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai contest.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), is once again set to electrify the bustling Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur with authentic world-class martial arts. Once again, the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent are set to take the ONE Championship cage. The Axiata Arena will play host to ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, set for Friday, 7 December. In the main event, Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex of Thailand takes on Luis Regis of Australia. Malaysian athletes Agilan Thani, Gianni Subba, Jihin Radzuan as well as newcomer Mohammed bin Mahmoud is set to dominate in the cage to make Malaysia proud.

Ticket information for ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS is available at www.onefc.com.

Multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex is one of the most popular and accomplished strikers in the world. Born in Northeast Thailand, Yodsanklai won close to 200 professional bouts against many fellow Muay Thai legends. In the process, he captured several prestigious titles, including three Lumpinee Stadium World Championships, two Lion Fight World Championships, two WMC World Championships, and a WBC World Title. The lure of testing his skills amongst the world’s best strikers in ONE Super Series has drawn him to ONE Championship, and he now finds himself competing on the toughest proving ground of martial arts competition. The legendary competitor now looks to dominate the ONE Championship arena. He returns to action against Luis Regis.

Luis “Macaco” Regis is one of the most prolific Muay Thai athletes and practitioners from Australia. He is not only a competitor, but also responsible for guiding prospective Muay Thai athletes as a coach. Over the course of his professional career, Regis has captured multiple Muay Thai titles including the IKBF Commonwealth Championship, Australian Championship, IKBF East Coast Championship, and the NSW Championship, among others. Regis is highly-technical in his approach, often emphasizing sound striking techniques to enhance his power. He also constantly travels between Australia and Thailand, sharpening his skills in his continuous learning journey. He now joins ONE Super Series and will take on the legendary Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in his promotional debut.

Former ONE Welterweight World Title challenger Agilan Thani is one of the most remarkable athletes Malaysia has ever produced. Ever since making his debut as an amateur, the man they call “Alligator” has torn through the competition. Unbeaten as an amateur, Thani captured a Malaysian national championship before turning professional, winning six bouts in a row on the global stage of ONE Championship to earn a shot at the title. The top contender trains daily at Monarchy MMA in Kuala Lumpur under well-respected Belgian BJJ coach Samir Mrabet, but also regularly travels to the United States to sharpen his skills at the world-famous Team Quest. His next opponent is Kiamrian Abbasov.

A Prime Selection GP Welterweight Champion, Kiamrian Abbasov was raised by a single mother in his hometown of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city. There, Abbasov began his martial arts journey with Greco-Roman wrestling, and later added boxing to his arsenal. After building a capable all-round game, Abbasov felt he was ready for a new challenge when he was 18 years old, and set his sights on competing in the cage. He would prove to be a talented prospect, and strung together four victories to begin his professional career. Early in his career, he won two tournament championships, including a one-night tournament in December 2016, where he beat three different men in one night. Today, he is one of Kyrgyzstan’s top martial arts athletes. He finds his way back to the ONE cage against Agilan Thani.

Gianni Subba has forged a reputation as one of the most exciting talents to watch in the ONE cage. He spent his childhood growing up in both Hawaii and his mother’s hometown of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, but he left at the age of 16 to finish his education in Salt Lake City. While in the United States, he learned to wrestle. In 2010, he decided to move back to Malaysia in order to pursue his dreams as a professional mixed martial artist. Since then, he has defeated several former world title challengers to cement his place at the top of a stacked flyweight division. He takes on Ma Hao Bin in his next assignment.

China’s “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin hails from Jingdezhen in Jiangxi. A lifelong fan of martial arts, Ma was introduced to wrestling in 2005, and has experienced great success. After becoming a national wrestling champion, he made his professional mixed martial arts debut on the very day he turned 22 years old, and celebrated in style by submitting two separate opponents in the opening round to win the ONE Changsha Bantamweight Tournament. Since then, the young Chinese sensation has been on a stellar run, racking up several wins in a row over tough opponents from all around the world. He now faces tough Malaysian adversary Gianni Subba.

Former Wushu World Champion and MIMMA Women’s Champion Jihin “Shadowcat” Radzuan is one of the finest female martial artists to emerge from Malaysia. Her first exposure to martial arts was a brief stint training in silat when she was 6 years old. She soon discovered the Ultimate MMA Academy, and after just three months of training, she competed in Muay Thai for the first time. Driven by a hunger to compete, she followed that up with bouts in wushu, BJJ, kickboxing, and boxing, capturing a wushu world championship along the way. She joined ONE Championship in March 2018, and has since put together two impressive victories. Radzuan resumes her ascent through the ranks by facing Jenny Huang.

Former ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title challenger Jenny Huang first took up taekwondo at the age of 8 and later started training in judo at the age of 12, and earned her black belt just four years later. She inevitably began training in other disciplines. In 2015, Huang made a successful professional cage debut, and caught the attention of ONE Championship. Since joining the promotion, Huang has registered many spectacular stoppage wins. This includes a Submission of the Year 2016 victory via gogoplata, which earned her a shot at Angela Lee’s world title in 2017. She now returns to face Jihin Radzuan.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that Hua Fung Teh has been named Chairman of ONE Championship in China. Teh also serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He joined ONE Championship in January of 2018.

Teh has extensive knowledge and experience in China’s business circuit. He was formerly a Principal at leading global private equity firm TPG Capital (TPG), where he was a key leader in the origination, evaluation, and execution of investments deals across Greater China and Southeast Asia for over 6 years.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “Hua Fung has done incredible work with ONE Championship over the past few months since joining the company. His dedication to growing our scale while delivering fans a unique and authentic martial arts experience has changed the game for us. I am proud to announce that he will be taking on more responsibility as Chairman of ONE Championship in China. I have full confidence that he can lead our operations in China and bring it to the next level.”

Hua Fung Teh, Chairman of ONE Championship in China, stated: “It is an honor to be appointed as Chairman of ONE Championship in China, a country with a long and respected tradition of martial arts going back thousands of years. I look forward to engaging with our local partners, athletes and fans, and helping our team further grow ONE Championship’s footprint and fan base in the country. The China market is incredibly important for us, and we are doing everything we can to achieve success. In addition, I have a deep personal affection and respect for China, having spent a lot of time and made many friends there. My late grandparents were also from Southern China, so there is a personal connection for me as well. I am very excited to start working with our amazing partners and team in China.”

Teh will continue to serve as CFO of ONE Championship, where he oversees various aspects of the company’s operations including finance, human resources, corporate development, media rights and digital partnerships.

Prior to his time at TPG Capital, Teh held various leadership positions in Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). At MTI, he was a key member of the team that brought Formula One (F1) racing to Singapore and organized the first night race in F1 history in 2008. He was also an aviator with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), where he operated F-16 fighter jets.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Business School, he sits on the Global Steering Committee of the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle, and is a member of The Forum of Young Global Leaders at the World Economic Forum.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Choi Ye Rok is one of Korea’s most celebrated models, having accumulated top-notch experience across several areas of Korea’s glitzy show business industry.

Her stately elegance and graceful curves have turned heads at several prominent motor shows and festivals, and stolen the scenes of many national advertising campaigns, TV dramas, music videos, and even movies. However, it comes as no surprise, given Ye Rok is a graduate of the Seoul Arts College having majored in Acting.

A highly-driven individual who prides herself on her willingness to take chances with new tasks and challenges, Ye Rok first heard about ONE Championship through the other Ring Girls, and immediately set out to land a place on the roster.

When she’s not grabbing people’s attention from centrestage, the diehard fan of spicy food is busy knitting, cooking, and hiking. She places her family and friends above all, and is a firm believer in working hard, playing hard, and always being happy.

Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan might just be the next young superstar in ONE Championship as she had a ton of hype behind her coming into her promotional debut at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY last March.

The 19-year-old native of Johor Bahru, Malaysia lived up to the billing with a submission victory over India’s Puja Tomar in front of a raucous crowd in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.While Radzuan comes from a Muay Thai background, she was looking to show off her ground skills as she repeatedly looked to drag Tomar to the ground and test her submission defense.

Radzuan nearly locked up an armbar on the mat in the second frame, but the Indian competitor refused to give up, forcing Radzuan to transition into a triangle choke.As much as Tomar tried to ride out the submission, there was no escape this time. The end came at 2:23 into the second round, giving Radzuan her first win on the global stage of ONE Championship.

“I couldn’t even describe my emotion and the feeling when my name was announced as the winner of the bout. As a young martial artist, I just showcased what I am capable of on the global stage. The whole world was watching, and it’s definitely a dream come true,” she recalled.

As a young, vibrant female mixed martial arts competitor, Radzuan is breaking the mold and giving women of all ages a legitimate sporting role model to look up to.Living in a conservative Muslim country like Malaysia, many people in her homeland believe that what she is doing is un-Islamic, and she should be taking on more traditional activities such as cooking and domestic interests.

Inspired by Ann Osman’s advocacy to erase the negative perception of women’s participation in combat sports, Radzuan believes that religious consciousness from certain people should not stop female mixed martial artists from pursuing their dreams.

“Being a mixed martial artist and being a Muslim as well shouldn’t hinder what I want to do or with achieving my goals or my ambition. We don’t believe religion should stop us. Islam teaches us to work hard,” said Radzuan, who also works as veterinary nurse.

Over the past decade, women’s mixed martial arts rose from relative obscurity to noticeable heights that many could not fathom in such a short span of time.The once male-dominated sport has been infiltrated by women equipped with equal prowess to engage in high-testosterone action, at times even with more gusto than their male counterparts.

After years of being told that they “just weren’t good enough” and that there “wasn’t enough girls to form a legitimate bracket”, women are finally gracing the biggest platform of the mixed martial arts world.

“Some people even say I should just stay at home or do another job, but I ignore this kind of people. This is my passion. I believe it’s great because we are making a difference, especially in Malaysia,” she expressed.

“Now I see women who are interested in martial arts for self-defense purposes. It’s a great start,” Radzuan added.

As she continues to open eyes and introduces legions of already passionate enthusiasts to the burgeoning realm of Asian mixed martial arts, Radzuan seeks to exemplify the utmost confidence of a woman in ONE Championship.

“I just hope to inspire other women or even boys and girls to do what they want to do. Whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve as long as you put in the commitment and work hard,” she stated.

On a quest for greatness and to deliver a show-stealing performance, Radzuan returns to action on Friday, 13 July as she squares off with Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER, which takes place at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Even though she is facing a more experienced competitor in her second ONE Championship outing, Radzuan is confident that she will walk away with her hand raised in triumph.

“I know she is a good fighter with a good background in martial arts. Plus, she is more experienced than me. But one important key to success is self-confidence. The trait has always been with me in this journey. I look at things optimistically,” she shared.

Radzuan stressed that she is proud to be among the youngest athletes representing Malaysia in ONE Championship.

“It’ll be just another day in the office for me. I’m super excited. I am definitely taking home the win in front of my hometown crowd,” she guaranteed.

When he made an astonishing promotional debut in ONE Championship in May 2017, Swede powerhouse Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam instantaneously became the hottest property in the promotion’s growing welterweight division.

It was a daunting task for Kadestam when he made his first appearance under the bright lights of the famed ONE Championship cage as he accepted a three-round welterweight encounter against former world title contender Luis “Sapo” Santos on just two weeks’ notice.The then-unknown Kadestam had been completely dominated in the opening two rounds of the contest before pulling off a miraculous knockout in the final stanza.

Kadestam turned the tide midway of the third round by sprawling a sluggish takedown attempt from the Brazilian, then reversed position, and hammered his opponent with strikes from side control.

A pair of hard knees put the finishing touches as the referee stepped in to call a halt to the contest at 2:18 of the third and final frame.

“I do not think I have ever fought like that before. I was waiting and waiting because I could feel his power, especially in the first two minutes. He had power in everything. He was fast in his hands and knees. My plan was to attack a lot more, but I could also see him gas early,” Kadestam recalled.

Kadestam’s astounding victory over Santos swiftly earned him a title opportunity as he challenged Ben Askren for the ONE Welterweight World Championship four months later, but his momentum was quickly halted by the unbeaten American champion.

Askren defeated Kadestam to retain the welterweight crown by way of second-round technical knockout in Shanghai, China.

Eager to erase the memory of his loss to Askren in September 2017 by putting himself back on the winning track, Kadestam returns to action on Friday, 13 July as he is booked to square off with a fellow ex-world title challenger in Agilan “The Alligator” Thani of Malaysia.

Both men are slated to face each other in the main event of ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER, which takes place at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Kadestam guarantees a better version of himself as he crosses paths with Thani, who aced his last two assignments since yielding to Askren in May 2017.

“Coming into this bout, I have a renewed confidence now. Surely, I am training hard. I am motivated to show the world that I am worthy to compete on an international stage like ONE Championship,” he stated.

Now that Askren has decided to call it a career after a successful title defense against Shinya Aoki last November, the road to the world title has seen its most costly toll removed.

Kadestam seeks to continue his climb to the apex of the organization’s 83.9-kilogram weight class.

“I have dreams of really becoming a world champion in this wonderful sport someday, and I am coming and willing to work for it,” he said.

Kadestam knows that he and Thani share the same desire of competing for gold once more, but he stressed that his Malaysian counterpart would not get the title shot he intensely wants at his expense.

“I am no pushover. I am not someone’s footstool. The belt will soon be mine. The bigger the obstacle, the greater the glory. I am here to fulfill my destiny,” he ended.

ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER at Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena on 13 July sees one of Malaysia’s favorite sons, Agilan “Alligator” Thani, continue along his road to redemption.Ben Askren was simply a huge task for Thani when they competed for the ONE Welterweight World Championship in May 2017.

Now that the American has decided to call it a career after a successful title defense against Shinya Aoki last November, the road to the world title has seen its most costly toll removed.

Despite the wide-open path to the promotion’s welterweight throne, Thani undergoes another detour as he is booked to face fellow world title contender Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in the co-main event of ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER.Although he has proven his worth to be next in line for the vacant welterweight championship by acing his next two assignments since yielding to Askren via first-round submission, Thani does not mind taking the long route to another title shot.

“I want to beat the best guys. I just want to win and move forward,” he said. “I just want to keep competing [against] the best so that I can win every match, and eventually get my way back to the title.”

According to Thani, his climb to the apex of ONE Championship’s welterweight division draws striking similarities with his humble beginnings.Before establishing himself as one of the world’s best welterweight mixed martial artists, Thani suffered from obesity and was constant victim of childhood bullying.Not only did he endure physical confrontations, but Thani frequently experienced psychological torment as well.

“People looked at you differently if you were from the higher or lower class, if you were a rich or a poor boy, if you have dark or light skin, and all of that stuff. Where I come from, it is a lower-class area, so I got bullied a lot,” he explained.

Growing up, Thani’s mother abandoned the family when he was still an infant, leaving him in the care of his father who provided for his son as a restaurant manager.When Thani was eight years old, his father relocated the family to a one-bedroom apartment in Sentul, a crime-ridden area of Kuala Lumpur.Studying at a local academic institution in Sentul, the bullying started because the soft-spoken Thani was an easy target.

“If you are a good boy, you get bullied a lot too, and I was a good boy. I was a lazy kid in school, but I never bothered anybody, so people started bothering me. I was a good kid in a rough neighborhood,” he recalled.

Over the years, his classmates started to make fun of his appearance as he packed on an enormous amount of weight and bloated up to 139 kilograms during his teenage years.

“Since I was fat, it’s like I had a woman’s chest,” he shared, chuckling in disbelief. “I did not have a man’s chest, so people made fun of that. They said you can get strawberry milk on the left, and chocolate milk on the right.”

“Those things are the main ways they verbally abused me in school, and if I said something back, they pinched my chest and ran away,” Thani added.

Thani admitted that bullying and abuse tore the emotional teen apart as the psychological torment and the constant embarrassment were something that he had immense difficulty dealing with.

“That type of bullying happened 90 percent of the time,” he bared. “I used to cry sometimes. Like, ‘Why would people say these things to me?’ because this happened for a long time. People always just made fun of me.”Realizing that enough is enough, Thani started to stand up for himself, and when the bullies no longer saw an easy target, they began to leave him alone.

Soon after, Thani’s newfound confidence borne through martial arts began to shine through.Thani transformed into a welterweight martial arts phenom, who worked at the gym full-time and was far from the chubby child who used to get made fun of.

“As a martial artist, I want to use the platform that I am standing on to inspire people. Life isn’t just about what you achieve, it’s also what you inspire others to achieve,” he mentioned.

Thani has persevered through life’s most heartbreaking circumstances and relates his life experiences to his current situation as a welterweight contender in ONE Championship.

“It’s all hard work and dedication. My life and career are eventually the same,” he affirmed. “To succeed, you need to work harder each and everyday. Most importantly, appreciate everyone and everything around you.”

Against a tough opposition such as Kadestam, Thani is training harder than ever to show that he deserves another chance at the welterweight crown.

“I am training all aspects of the game to achieve my goal — to win against my opponent and be one step closer to getting back to a world title shot,” he concluded.