Dave Bangguigui. Photo from ONE Championship
MANILA, Philippines—Dave Bangguigui turned heads in his debut at ONE Championship’s main roster when he topped Brazil’s Marcus Paulo Amaral last month in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bangguigui, the La Trinidad, Benguet native, beat Amaral at his own game, taking the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to the ground several times en route to a unanimous decision victory.
“I’m quite pleased with my performance since I was able to keep up with him despite the fact that he is way more experienced than me as a fighter and he’s a black belt in BJJ,” Bangguigui said.
What made his win more impressive was the fact that he and his coach Nicho Tabora were completely unaware of Amaral’s grappling pedigree heading into their strawweight clash in ONE Friday Fights 14.
“We were surprised when we found out his credentials. But of course, I don’t fear any fighter because we prepared for it. Regardless of how the fight went, whether on the feet or on the ground, we were ready,” said Bangguigui, who had a two-bout stint under Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series in 2019.
“Even though my striking can really hold up, if I can finish the fight better on the ground, that’s where I’m taking the fight to.”
The 26-year-old Bangguigui improved his record to 9-1.
Meanwhile, another Filipino strawweight in Jeremy Miado is set to return to action on June 10 at ONE Fight Night 11 in Bangkok.
Miado, who has been on a resurgence, aims for his fifth consecutive win as he eyes to climb the rankings in the stacked strawweight class.