ONE: Four years since loss to Moraes, Eustaquio confident he’s a better fighter

ONE interim flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio talks to the media ahead of his title unification bout against Adriano Moraes. Photo by Bong Lozada.

Geje Eustaquio is not a fan of hyping himself up.

And even heading into the biggest fight of his career, the interim ONE Championship flyweight titlist refrains from getting caught up in the situation.

Eustaquio will face World flyweight champion Adriano Moraes on June 23 in Macau in a unification bout but the Team Lakay member maintains a level head heading into the showdown.

“This is just another ordinary office day,” said Eustaquio Wednesday at Dad’s in Ortigas during Team Lakay’s press conference. “I’m heading into this fight as a champion and I’m fighting hungry.”

Moraes already beat Eustaquio once in 2014 and was crowned as ONE’s inaugural flyweight champion but the Baguio City native is confident he can bounce back in their rematch almost four years after their previous encounter.

Eustaquio (10-6) is, as he said, a master of rematches having gone 2-0 in his repeat fights against Kairat Akhmetov and Anatpong Bunrad.

“They say victory is sweeter the second time around, and I usually win my rematches,” said Eustaquio in Filipino. “And I feel that my development is faster than his.”

Eustaquio admitted he wasn’t the same fighter he was when he lost to Moraes (17-2), and he vowed that he would put on a show unlike any other he has put on before.

“Back in 2014 I know that I was still in first grade in terms of grappling and I’ve shown to the world I’ve developed how I’ve grown up in grappling and jiu-jitsu and I am confident I can roll with the Brazilian Black Diamond,” said Eustaquio.