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Friday, March 29, 2024

Kingad wants to leave lasting impression on US fans

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Team Lakay’s Danny “The King” Kingad knows much more is at stake than personal glory in the upcoming ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Championship Final. 

Kingad battles world-renowned Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the final round of the tournament in ONE: CENTURY at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.

If he beats Johnson, his stock will skyrocket. But the 23-year-old knows that a victory would mean much more for the Philippines.

“This is an opportunity that I’ve been waiting a long time for, a chance to show that Filipinos can hang with the highest level of martial arts in the world,” Kingad said. “This match would prove just that.”

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The massive event is ONE Championship’s 100th show and will feature two full-scale World Championship events. 

Kingad’s bout with “Mighty Mouse” co-headlines Part I, which will air live on US primetime through TNT. 

The youthful Baguio City native believes this is the chance to show his mixed martial arts talent to the West. 

A win against an athlete who many believe is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time will unearth the blossoming mixed martial arts scene in the Philippines. 

“It’s a huge privilege for me because I’m battling in the biggest event of ONE, and I’m taking on Johnson. I really wanted to face him since he joined ONE last year,” Kingad shared. 

“As I’ve said, I want to show the potential of Asian MMA, particularly Filipino athletes like me. A win over Johnson will open many opportunities for our athletes as it will show that we can hang with [the best] and win.”

Winner of his previous six matches, the Team Lakay prodigy also wants to perform on US soil. No tentative dates are set, but The Home Of Martial Arts plans to hold an event for the US sometime next year. 

He knows that a prodigious performance will leave an impression on Western fans.

"I want to compete on the US card for ONE. For me, it’s a huge platform and another opportunity to perform,” Kingad said. 

“At the same time, I want them to see the talent of Filipinos live, not just on television.”

Kingad’s road to immortality will kick off at ONE: CENTURY, the biggest World Championship martial arts event in history. No organization has ever promoted two full-scale World Championship events in one day.

The Home Of Martial Arts breaks new ground as 28 World Champions compete in four World Title bouts, three World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches at the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan on 13 October in Tokyo, Japan.

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