Filipino boxer to debut as MMA fighter

BOXER Jujeath Nagaowa’s campaign to become the first Filipina mixed martial arts champion starts on Dec. 6 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Noted for her footwork, Nagaowa of Baguio City will face Malaysian muay fighter Siti Syahida Binte Adek in one of the main attractions of the One Fighting Championship: Moment of Truth at the 20,000-seater Arena.

“My dream is to become an MMA champion,” said the 26-year-old former WBC Asia atomweight (95-105 lb) champion who had beaten the top contenders in the continent.

“But there’s no pressure. I’m just very excited to get in there and show what I can do,” added Nagaowa, who trains with Team Lakay fighters in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Without any in-depth scouting report available on Siti, Nagaowa will have to play it smart and go into the cage ready to engage.

But she knows exemplary boxing skills and aggressiveness are not enough. She acknowledges that effective and successful MMA fighter should be a quick and powerful stand-up striker and good at controlling the ground.

“I need to make sure I cover all those bases. I will keep going putting pressure,” said Nagaowa. “I want to show the world that women in the Philippines are good at MMA, too.”

She will fight in a card that features four Filipino wushu warriors from Team Lakay—Honorio “The Rock” Banario, Eduard Folayang, Geje Eustaquio and Kevin Belingon.

Banario sees a decisive knockout triumph over fierce rival Koji Oishi, the Japanese who dethroned him as One FC world featherweight champion last May in Manila before a stunned Filipino crowd.