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Friday, March 29, 2024

Thunder Strikes vs. Power Takedowns: Adiwang finally meets Hexigetu after cancelled bout

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It's a match nine months in the making.

But at ONE: REVOLUTION on September 24, the paths of Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang and "Wolf of the Grasslands" Hexigetu finally cross in a much-awaited strawweight showdown, both driven to prove who is the superior talent.

The bout was originally slated for ONE: UNBREAKABLE last January until travel restrictions in Hebei, China brought upon by a spike in COVID-19 cases forced Hexigetu to skip the event.

But through it all, Adiwang looked forward in mixing it up against proud sanda expert from Horqin, Inner Mongolia.

"I wasn't disappointed that I wasn't able to meet him last January, but I really wanted to fight him," he said.

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The unforeseen changes left Adiwang without his dance partner, one which Deep Strawweight Champion Namiki Kawahara of Japan filled in at the last minute.

Although the Philippine National Wushu Champion had to scamper with his preparations after being just given a week to shift his game plan, he wasn't shy in showing his prowess, tagging his Japanese foe with a killer left hook to score the second round knockout win.

For the Team Lakay rising star, this actually felt like a blessing in disguise as he had a chance to test his mettle against Kawahara, himself a lethal striker, in his continued ascent in the ONE strawweight division.

"I feel fortunate, actually, that the changes led to a match against Namiki, which we already know how that ended up," he said with a smile.

Adiwang believes that there's a reason why stars aligned that way, and true enough, he did get a second chance to face Hexigetu in this upcoming Singapore card.

"That cancelled fight against Hexigetu only gave us and my team more time to study him and learn his style," he quipped.

The 28-year-old understands how dangerous of an opponent Hexigetu is, citing the Chinese's explosiveness as a point of concern. 

"I know that he's as solid as a fighter as they come. We know how explosive he can be, so it's something that we really are watching for."

It's truly something worth keeping an eye on for the Filipino stud, especially with Hexigetu on a three-fight win streak, going unbeaten since March 2019 when he beat "The Enigma" Ovais Shah of Pakistan via unanimous decision at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT in Bangkok.

He followed it up with another unanimous decision win over Ramon "The Bicolano" Gonzales of the Philippines at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS in Beijing back in November 2019, and a close split deicison victory over Dejdamrong "Kru Rong" Sor Amnuaysirichoke on Thailand at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES in October 2020 in Singapore.

Adiwang, though, is on a tear of his own, winning eight of his last nine fights.

The only defeat tasted by the ONE Super Series winner was a shock split decision loss to Japanese contender Hiroba Minowa at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III last November, a defeat he still wants to redeem himself from.

That's why Adiwang knows the big stakes hanging in the balance for this match, acknowledging that a win would likely propel him in the conversation to be included in the ONE Athlete Rankings.

Still, being part of the top five is another beast of its own, and he knows that for him to truly earn his place in the strawweight rankings, he will have to take down those currently holding their spots.

"Honestly, I know that I have to beat someone in the top five to earn my place there. Actually, I am ready to face anyone of those in the top five," he said, laying down the challenge for the likes of no. 1-ranked Yosuke "The Ninja" Saruta, no. 2 Yoshitaka "Nobita" Naito, no. 3 Bokang "Little Giant" Masunyane, no. 4 Minowa, and no. 5 Alex "Little Rock" Silva.

Doing so would certainly bode well for Adiwang's plans to remain in title contention as he looks to make up for lost time inside the ONE Circle.

It doesn't mean, however, that Adiwang is already looking past Hexigetu.

For him, though, winning over the Chinese is his first step in making those dreams a reality.

"I have to win against him if I want to make those dreams a reality," he said.

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