Filipino standout Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan promises to come back better and stronger following his loss at the hands of Thailand’s Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit last Friday, 10 May.
Both athletes electrified the crowd in their strawweight mixed martial arts bout at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT. It was a thrilling affair, but Mitsatit made the local fans inside Bangkok’s Impact Arena proud with his first-round knockout victory.Although he fell short in his bid to capture his second win of 2019, Catalan finds comfort with the fact that he was competitive against an up-and-coming star like “The Smiling Assassin.”
“I knew I was an underdog, but I think I gave it my all. In the end, I fell short, so it’s back to the gym,” he said.
“I was not able to maintain my position when I was going for submissions. That was my biggest mistake. Eventually, he caught me with a huge knee on my ribs, which has given me problems in the past.”
Catalan showcased his warrior spirit, as he started the bout aggressively with his wushu attacks and constantly threatened with submission attempts following numerous takedowns.
Despite the Filipino’s most valiant efforts, Mitsatit managed to defend his takedowns effectively, and eventually controlled the striking aspect of the contest with his world-class Muay Thai.
The finish came in the clinch when “The Smiling Assassin” launched a thunderous knee into Catalan’s body.
As much as the defeat stings for “The Ilonggo,” he was quick to concede that he lost to a better athlete and that the setback will only make him better moving forward.
“He’s tough. I heard his leg pop during my heel hook submission attempt, but he did not tap. He managed to control me in the clinch, and I struggled in trying to take him down again,” Catalan explained.
“Though I lost, I felt like I had a good showing. I just fell short in the end. Rest assured, I’ll learn from this, and this will only benefit me moving forward.
“I know that a good career still awaits me, for as long as I remain determined and hungry.”