IT might be a far-off dream, but a fighter from a humble town in Visayas is making his aspirations become a reality through countless hours of training and an adamant will.
And Jenel “The Demolition Man” Lausa apparently still needs to be pinched to make him realize, that his dream is being fulfilled.
After the UFC’s decision to tap the promising regional champ and include him in the UFC FIGHT NIGHT® Manila: LAMAS vs PENN match-card, the former boxing titlist was surprised at first when the news came, but he is more than willing to slug it out with China’s Yao Zhikui in front of a home crowd at MoA Arena.
“When I got the news from my sports agent that UFC will sign me up, I was very happy and excited,” said the Iloilo native Lausa, who carries a 6-2-0 record coming into the match.
“It’s a very great opportunity for me. It’s something that I cannot say no to. When it comes to my fight on Oct. 15, I am preparing and training hard for it,” added Lausa, referring to his clash with “The Conqueror,” who has a 2-4-0 win-loss-draw record.
Fulfilling a dream come true after years of hard work and sacrifice, Lausa is ready to make the most of this opportunity with the world’s premier MMA organization.
Hailing from humble origins, Lausa has been able to make a living through his fighting skill and understands that being in UFC will only open more opportunities for him to create a better livelihood for his family.
“I know that my opponent, Yao Zhikui, and I will put on a great show, as we are both very good fighters. Lastly, I want to say thank you to all the people who paved the way for me to be part of the UFC.”
Asked what his expectations are of his match with Zhikui, Lausa is confident he has the skill set to deliver a good performance.
“All I can say is that I’m better in striking than him,” Lausa said in Filipino during Max Holloway’s open workout at Megamall in Mandaluyong recently.
“I’m not sure in Jiu-Jitsu, I think we’re pretty even. Let’s just see how it pans out after the match,” he added as his opponent is no stranger to the Philippines, having earned his first UFC victory in last year’s UFC event in Manila.
A regional flyweight titleholder, Lausa became the first homegrown title-holder to fight for the world’s premier MMA organization. Lausa is currently riding high on a four-fight winning streak and will now look to duplicate his success on fight night in front of thousands of passionate Filipino fans.