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After a number of postponements, the long-awaited conflict between #2-ranked flyweight contender Danny “The King” Kingad and #4-ranked Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov is lastly occurring at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II, which airs from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 17 December.
Their first scheduled matchup was canceled when Akhmetov withdrew from the 2019 ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix semifinals resulting from an damage. Then, Kingad pulled out of their December 2020 bout after contracting COVID-19.
However the third time seems to be a allure, and the Filipino is happy to lastly sq. off in opposition to the previous divisional king.
“It’s been years. I’ve been desirous to face him for a very long time,” Kingad says.
“Sadly, our match obtained canceled twice. Now, it’s a unique sort of pleasure for me. I’m going through somebody I’ve all the time needed to face.”
Kingad’s pleasure is justifiable.
So far, the Crew Lakay product has competed in opposition to each different top-five ranked flyweight blended martial arts contender — albeit with various outcomes.
He defeated #3-ranked Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu and #5-ranked Reece “Lightning” McLaren. Nevertheless, he fell quick to #1-ranked Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes — the latter in an unsuccessful 2017 World Title bid.
Towards Akhmetov, he needs to show that he’s prepared for one more crack on the gold.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old wushu specialist is aware of that defeating “The Kazakh” received’t be simple. He’s additionally conscious of the strong all-around recreation his opponent brings to the Circle.
Akhmetov is a lifelong wrestler who received three Greco-Roman Nationwide Wrestling Championships in his homeland earlier than making the change to blended martial arts in 2010. Since then, he’s racked up a formidable 27-2 slate within the all-encompassing sport and held the ONE Flyweight World Title.
Sadly, a again damage briefly derailed the Arlan MMA Professional Crew and Tiger Muay Thai consultant’s momentum. However with three straight wins on his report, he’s returned to type thanks partly to his well-developed stand-up recreation – which was brilliantly displayed in wins over McLaren and “Holy Beast” Dae Hwan Kim.
Although Akhmetov has energy in his fingers, Kingad is assured in his personal placing skill. And may “The Kazakh” select to commerce blows with him, the Filipino guarantees it is going to be a mistake.
“I observed that his placing has been bettering. I watched his final combat, and I obtained actually excited as a result of his enchancment actually impressed me,” the Crew Lakay star says.
“He’s additionally stated that he needs to strike with me, so I’m actually motivated by that. I hope he is aware of that he’s going through a lethal striker.
“Possibly I’ll give him issues after we field. If he actually decides to strike with me, then he’s principally taking part in my recreation. That’s the match that I would like, so I hope he is aware of what he needs.”
Alongside together with his stand-up recreation, “The King” believes the remainder of his repertoire might frustrate Akhmetov and he has left no stone unturned in his preparation.
“I’ve been ready for this. And make no mistake about it, I’m able to go toe-to-toe with him. I’m prepared wherever the match goes. It may be in placing or we will take it to the bottom. I do know I’ve numerous weapons in retailer for him,” Kingad continues.
“I’m actually not into saying or proclaiming issues. I’m not a fan of individuals saying, ‘I’ll beat this man,’ or whatnot as a result of, in every match, your opponent can be getting ready onerous for you. Let’s simply say I’m not afraid of him.
“I do know that I’ve numerous weapons at my disposal that I can use in opposition to him. I do know for myself that I’ve labored onerous and educated onerous for this.”
If he manages to beat “The Kazakh” on 17 December, then Kingad hopes he’ll earn a rematch with the person who handed him his first profession defeat – Moraes. However even then, the flyweight contender is open to all challengers.
“I’m keen to combat whoever. I wish to achieve expertise and study from every match. In case I beat Akhmetov, I hope they lastly give me Adriano. However whoever it’s, I’ll be excited for it,” he says.
The Filipino has envisioned one other battle with “Mikinho” for fairly a while now. And if the chance involves him once more, “The King” feels he’ll be a extra polished fighter the second time round.
“I’ve extra weapons in my arsenal now. I’ve realized a lot since I misplaced to Moraes, and I’ve been bettering my weaknesses from that bout day-after-day,” Kingad says.
“My teammates have additionally pushed me to develop new expertise and showcase new stuff that I didn’t have in my final combat.”
Earlier than “The King” settles unfinished enterprise together with his previous foe although, he has to concentrate on the person standing in entrance of him at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II as a result of – like Kingad – Akhmetov additionally needs one other crack at Moraes, who simply so occurred to grab his belt away in 2017.
And it was that titleholder, the person who went 22-0 earlier than securing ONE gold, who the Crew Lakay standout has been eyeing for a very long time.
“We’ve been getting ready for this match since Akhmetov grew to become the [ONE] Flyweight World Champion,” Kingad says. “I knew that we had been certain to face one another, and it’s lastly right here.”
Learn extra: Akhmetov Desires To Beat Kingad, Then End Enterprise With Moraes
