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“The Combating God” Kim Jae Woong just isn’t in the least nervous about his featherweight combined martial arts bout towards Tang Kai at ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE on Friday, 28 January.
As a substitute, the division’s #1 contender merely views their matchup as an opportunity to showcase his deadly stand-up abilities earlier than difficult for the gold later in 2022.
“Tang Kai is a striker and so am I, and there’s this factor between putting athletes – it’s a matter of pleasure, all of us consider we’re the very best,” the South Korean slugger says.
“Folks all the time marvel what is going to occur after I go up towards a robust striker, considering that I received’t make it. It’s onerous for me to just accept due to my pleasure. I need to show them fallacious.”
Kim knocked out former ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen in his final outing, grabbing the top-contender spot within the course of.
Nonetheless, reigning featherweight king Thanh Le is already booked to face Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon subsequent, so there may very well be a wait to problem for the belt.
With that in thoughts, “The Combating God” accepted a battle with the rising Chinese language striker. However whereas some consider Kim is taking an enormous threat in doing so, he doesn’t really feel the identical means.
“Tang has had consecutive wins and I obtained a suggestion so I felt like I can be working away from a possibility to show myself if I had been to show it down,” Kim says.
“And since I’ve a whole lot of time earlier than the title shot, I simply thought it will be warmup.”
The Seoul resident has captured all three of his ONE victories by knockout, with eight in whole in his profession. Nonetheless, Tang additionally has three KOs in ONE, in addition to 11 stoppages in 13 profession victories.
Nonetheless, Kim doesn’t suppose his rival’s report stacks up alongside his personal, and he sees faults within the Chinese language athlete’s resume that make him assured about their battle in “The Lion Metropolis.”
“I actually need to ask, who has he been up towards? I don’t suppose Tang Kai has fought towards any big-named athletes till now,” Kim says.
“I feel Tang Kai is a robust fighter however, like I stated, he hasn’t been up towards somebody stronger than himself earlier than. I’m not trying down on them, however the athletes he received towards are those I may have completed within the first spherical.
“After this match, I feel Tang Kai will fall to the extent the place he’s somebody not value mentioning ever once more.”
Regardless of Kim’s confidence, Tang can’t be neglected. He’s using an eight-fight profitable streak that has pushed him to the #4 spot within the featherweight rankings.
“The Combating God” accepts that the surging Qingdao native has some stable putting abilities, although he doesn’t suppose they will match his personal
Furthermore, sees no menace from Tang’s grappling sport.
“Tang Kai just isn’t good at jiu-jitsu or wrestling from what I noticed. I feel his solely core ability is putting so I’m guessing that’s all he’ll go for,” Kim gives.
“From a look, I feel he’s usually fixated on one factor or sticks to the fundamentals. He’s not likely a fighter who has a whole lot of abilities to supply. He’s only a fighter who actually has his fundamentals ingrained in him.
“Taking a look at it, in some ways in which’s scarier I guess, however for me, I know how you can use sure abilities primarily based on the athlete I’m up towards or the state of affairs I’m in, and repair up my strikes as and when they’re wanted.
“I’m higher than Tang Kai on all ranges, however I noticed that he’s good with strikes on his left aspect, each legs and arms, so I’m coaching my defenses towards that since my attacking abilities are already established.”
“The Combating God” already appears to have received the match in his head, however he’ll have to do it for actual on 28 January.
Kim received’t be charging in in search of the end in any respect prices, however he does anticipate to place Tang away inside the gap to formally guide his shot on the ONE Featherweight World Title.
“Tang Kai appears to suppose that he’s the very best striker on the market. This time I’ll present him who’s the very best after which I’ll go for my title shot,” Kim provides.
“I’m not likely grasping about going for a KO, however I’m like that in each struggle. I don’t intention for it, however I suppose he will likely be completed when he receives a punch similar to everybody else.”
Learn extra: Kim Jae Woong: I Wouldn’t Have A Drawback In opposition to Le Or Tonon
