Filipina-American ONE Super Series Newcomer KC Carlos will be inheriting the fighting pride of her native Philippines when she takes on top muay thai prospect Wondergirl Fairtex Friday.
Carlos and Fairtex will face each other in a three round muay thai contest with 4-ounce gloves.
The two will go head-to-head at ONE: A NEW BREED, a live, closed-door, audience-free event in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 23-year old vowed to "fight her heart out" and put on a good show.
"I am a very dedicated and hard-working athlete who does not give up," said Carlos.
"I've been through some very rough times in my life, but I refused to let any of that stop me from what I wanted to achieve. I love what I do and I believe that passion shows in my training and fighting."
The Thailand-based fighter said she wanted to connect with her Filipino roots and give honor to the Philippines in ONE Championship.
"I haven't really gotten the chance to connect to my Filipino roots, at least not as much as I want to because I've been living in Thailand for a very long time. Filipinos have a strong heart and I am bringing my heart into this fight," she added.
Fairtex, meanwhile, is fresh off a spectacular showing at ONE: NO SURRENDER III in July.
The 21-year old scored a first-round knockout against Australia's Brooke Farrell in her ONE Super Series debut.
Still, Carlos remains steadfast in her conviction to earn the win against the hometown bet.
"Wondergirl is a tough and skilled fighter. I'm confident I will perform well, and give it all I got. It would be amazing to get the win and I will try my best to achieve that," said Carlos.
"I'm a kicker! I've been kicking my whole life since my taekwondo days as a kid. I like to be fast, precise with power and aggressive. Other than kicking, I like to use all other weapons I have, depending on the situation, to make the fight unpredictable and also entertaining," she added.
Ahead of the fight, Carlos has a message for all the Filipino fans, especially those hit hard by the current global health crisis.
"To all the Filipino fans out there, no matter what the situation is, don’t give up. Believe in yourselves and keep going. We all have a purpose, so we need to show it," Carlos said.