Danny "The King" Kingad does not have any problems in dealing with some last-minute changes as he is now slated to face Senzo Ikada in the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix quarter-finals at ONE: A NEW ERA in Tokyo, Japan on 31 March.
Ikeda stepped in last after Andrew Leone, Kingad’s original opponent, pulled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Although making some final minute changes may pose as a predicament, Kingad pointed that he is up to the challenge.
"I am ready for whoever ONE Championship puts in front of me,” he said.
“I have trained hard and prepared well for the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, so I am confident that I can take on anyone in the tournament who stands in my way."
Kingad admitted that facing Ikeda, especially with little time to prepare, will be very tricky.
Ikeda, the reigning Pancrase Flyweight World Champion, is a mixed martial arts veteran with a professional record of 12-6-1.
The 36-year-old native of Sendai, Japan is also an undefeated professional boxer who holds a immaculate record of 8-0.
In his last match, Ikeda scored a sensational fifth-round stoppage victory over fellow ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix participant Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu in February 2018 for his fourth-straight victory.
That is why Kingad knows better than to take this match lightly.
“Senzo Ikeda is a talented competitor, and he has a lot of momentum behind him with four-straight wins,” he stated.
“I have faith in my capabilities and my skills. I believe that I can put an end to that winning streak.”
But at the end of it, Kingad vows that his hand will be raised after the match.
“I am confident that I can take on anyone in the tournament who stands in my way. My goal is to win this tournament,” he declared.
“To do that, I will need to show my best in all of the matches, starting with this first one against Ikeda."