First trilogy excites Eustaquio

Even though Geje Eustaquio is set to face Adriano Moraes for the third time, the Team Lakay ward feels there’s still something new to look forward to.

“It’s a trilogy match and it’s the first time in the history of ONE Championship,” he told the Inquirer on Tuesday.

Eustaquio, who copped the interim flyweight crown at the expense of Kazakhstan’s Kairat Akhmetov in early January, became the undisputed division champion after narrowly outlasting Moraes in a grueling match last June.

Eustaquio, whose 11-6-0 pro record was built by an unpredictable repertoire, locks horns with the Brazilian Jiujitsu specialist once again this Jan. 25 in the “Hero’s Ascent” card at MOA Arena in Pasay.

Eustaquio failed to wrest the title from Moraes in their first meeting in 2014. Back then, the Filipino barely had a polished ground game. He went on to display a vastly improved arsenal in their unification bout in June that ended in a split decision—a result the Brazilian strongly opposed.

“I understand his feelings after our second match. Every athlete [experiences] a rough night. It just so happened that in that night I was given the victory,” Eustaquio said.

Eustaquio will be the second Team Lakay fighter to stake his title in January, after Joshua Pacio on Jan. 19.