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Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva is clawing his means again into the title image, however earlier than he can take into consideration difficult for the gold, he must beat one in all his earliest opponents as soon as extra.
This Friday, 26 November, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grasp will sq. off in opposition to Filipino wushu star Rene “The Challenger” Catalan in a strawweight blended martial arts battle at ONE: NEXTGEN III from Singapore.
The rematch has been greater than eight years within the making, and whereas Silva acknowledges that Catalan’s all-around abilities have grown tremendously in that point, he nonetheless feels a lot sharper in his essential space of experience.
“Positively, each of us are utterly totally different fighters now,” the 39-year-old Singapore-based Brazilian says.
“In my thoughts, we’re type of like a white belt in MMA once we first fought, however we improved lots. In fact, he has improved lots. His grappling, his wrestling, and his putting are excellent, however I improved lots too. I can strike now.
“Even when he improved his grappling, I don’t assume he’s as much as par with my grappling. I’ve been positively watching him for a very long time.”
The 2 initially met at ONE: KINGS & CHAMPIONS in April 2013 beneath very totally different circumstances.
Silva, a BJJ World Champion, was coming off a loss in his first promotional look in opposition to future flyweight kingpin Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio.
In the meantime, Catalan, a multiple-time Wushu World Champion, was making his blended martial arts debut with a heavy coronary heart. The Filipino athlete’s spouse had handed away two weeks earlier, however he was decided to hold on.
Ultimately, the matchup didn’t final lengthy. After the opening bell, “Little Rock” rapidly introduced the motion to the canvas and compelled the faucet with simply 26 seconds remaining to earn his first victory on the worldwide stage.
“It was a brief combat. I used to be capable of end the combat within the first spherical,” Silva recollects.
“I simply began very aggressively with my grappling, pressured him in opposition to his protection, took him down, [and] managed him on the bottom slightly bit. And I type of backed up and I used to be capable of take him down, take his again, and get an armbar submission.”
In fact, lots has modified since that first assembly virtually a decade in the past.
Silva went on to submit Catalan’s brothers – Ruel and Robin – and finally beat then-undefeated Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito to say the ONE Strawweight World Title in December 2017.
The Brazilian then dropped the strap again to Naito in his subsequent contest and skilled blended leads to the years that adopted. However these setbacks didn’t deter “Little Rock,” who decimated Miao Li Tao this previous April to take care of his grip on the strawweight division’s #4 contender spot.
Alongside the best way, Silva additionally elevated his putting repertoire beneath the tutelage of Evolve’s Muay Thai World Champions.
For his half, Catalan’s early MMA journey continued to get rockier – however he turned issues round in an enormous means.
Following a no contest and a loss to Silva’s Evolve teammate Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, the Manila native put collectively one of many best runs in ONE Championship historical past.
He gained six straight fights, climbed the divisional ladder, and finally fought ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Ardour” Pacio for the gold.
Although he in the end misplaced that World Title problem after which fell to #2 strawweight contender Bokang “Little Large” Masunyane, “The Challenger” proved that his world-class putting may carry him all the best way to the highest.
Furthermore, the 42-year-old has continued to show improved grappling, which was fine-tuned throughout his time with the Philippine nationwide sambo workforce.
Although Catalan’s all-around sport has grown by leaps and bounds, Silva nonetheless believes he holds a definitive benefit – particularly now that he’s added a potent stand-up arsenal.
“I’m very assured in my abilities and my grappling abilities,” the Brazilian affords.
“Like I mentioned, again to once we fought for the primary time, I couldn’t strike nicely. I couldn’t even strike. I [was] similar to 100% pure grappling. Now, I really feel that I can keep extra on the toes if I’ve to and use my grappling.”
With that in thoughts, “Little Rock” thinks his bread and butter will lead him to victory as soon as once more when this rematch goes down on Friday – besides this time, it might take him slightly bit longer.
“I believe God is aware of what’s going to occur,” Silva provides, “however I predict a submission within the second spherical.”
Learn extra: The Street That Led To Alex Silva vs. Rene Catalan II
