Liberian MMA Fighter Jerome Paye to Look for Redemption at July One Championship Match in Surabaya
Jakarta. Liberian standout Jerome S. Paye is all geared up for his three-round flyweight encounter with Thai boxing world champion Yodsanan "Little Tyson" Sityodtong on the undercard of One Championship's Conquest of Kings tournament in Surabaya, East Java, on July 29.
One Championship is a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) tournament organizer.
Paye made his One Championship debut against China’s Li Hao Jie in February 2016, showcasing a well-rounded set of techniques and stifling his opponent with an array of striking combinations.
However, he fell short in that bout by way of unanimous decision.
A victory inside the One Championship cage remained elusive to Paye yet again when he yielded to Indonesian prospect Stefer Rahardian in a unanimous decision loss this past January.
With the ability to make fights difficult for any opponent, Paye will look for a career redemption as he is set to make his return to the ONE Championship cage in Surabaya to face Sityodtong.
"I am very excited for my upcoming fight. I really want to show the fans here in Asia what I am truly capable of," Paye said in a statement received on Wednesday (28/06).
Coming off two-straight setbacks, Paye admitted that he is eager to place himself on a winning track and claim his first win in Asia’s largest mixed martial arts competition.
"For every good fighter, it’s their big dream to get a win in an international MMA organization like One Championship. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that chance in my last fight. Now, I have to redeem myself in front of the whole world. That’s why I am so eager to get this win," he stated.
Meanwhile, Sityodtong, a former World Boxing Association super featherweight title holder, has the ability to stop opponents in their tracks. With 47 knockouts in boxing and all three of his MMA victories ending in a similar fashion, Sityodtong has always been on the lookout for an abrupt ending to his contents.Currently riding a two-bout winning streak, Sityodtong will be going for number three against Paye, who has yet to win a single One Championship match.
"Although I have the experience coming into this fight, I am not taking him lightly. He is still dangerous. He is a boxing champion for a reason. I will just maximize my tools as an MMA competitor against him," Paye said of his opponent.
The 39-year-old Liberian is out to make a name for himself and his country in July's bout, and to try to spread MMA in Liberia, where football is the dominate spectator sport.
"It’s innate for every African to be athletic. If only Liberians can channel that into MMA, I think we will be successful in this sport. Football is a household name in my country. With the same amount of support, MMA can grow," he said. "It’s truly a privilege to represent Liberia in the ONE Championship. Not [everyone] gets that opportunity.
"I want to put Liberia on the MMA map because it’s my desire to open the doors of opportunity for my countrymen. Liberians have a potential in MMA. It’s a step-by-step process. Getting the win is just the first of it," he said.
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