After title win, Eustaquio eyes unification clash with Moraes

ONE Flyweight Champion Adriano Moraes and ONE Interim Flyweight Champion Geje Eustaquio face off. Photo from ONE Championship.

New ONE Interim Flyweight Champion Geje Eustaquio is ready to move on after proving his doubters wrong with his unanimous decision win over Kairat Akhmetov in the main event of ONE: Global Superheroes on Friday.

The 28-year-old had no second thoughts when asked if he’s ready to unify the titles against current champion Adriano Moraes in a potential mega-match in the near future.

“If he’s ready, I’m ready. Rock and roll, let’s go,” he said.

New ONE Interim Flyweight Champion Geje Eustaquio says that he’s ready to face current Flyweight Champion Adriano Moraes anytime. “Rock and roll,” he said. @ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/UdB2Knoqr6

— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) January 26, 2018

It was a different Eustaquio who entered the cage on Friday as the Team Lakay veteran was in control of the match for the full five rounds and showed tremendous poise in times when his Kazakh foe put him in dangerous situations.

And all of that is a testament to his stringent training going to his rematch with Akhmetov, improving every facet of his game to avenge his split decision loss in Jakarta last September.

Aside from his usual training in the Team Lakay Gym in Benguet, Eustaquio also worked on his wrestling under coach Ali Heydarabadi and developed his jiu-jitsu, making the victory over the former ONE Flyweight Champion indisputable this time out.

“Coach Mark (Sangiao) always makes sure that every time I win or lose, I learn,” he said.

That’s why Eustaquio is positive that the next time he and Moraes cross paths, it will be a different story compared to their first clash back in September 2014 in Phnom Penh, where the Brazilian bet won the vacant flyweight title he submitted the Filipino challenger with a guillotine choke in the second round.

“It’s a dream come true. Every fighter dreams to have this title,” he said, before reiterating that he shares the glory with the whole country. “One more time: This is not mine. This is ours. This is a product of teamwork. It’s not just about ‘Gravity,’ it’s about the people who cheer, who believed, and who watch on their TVs because they all helped this sport grow to what it is today.”

Geje Eustaquio reiterates that the ONE Interim Flyweight Championship isn’t just his. “It’s ours,” he said. @ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/URPfFEeukU

— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) January 26, 2018