Australian fighter Antonio Caruso is more than honored to be taking on one of the best Filipino mixed martial artists.
It's going to be a classic storyline of youth versus experience when the 29-year-old Caruso faces Team Lakay's Eduard Folayang in their lightweight bout in ONE: Inside the Matrix on October 30 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Caruso had huge admiration for Folayang and considered that the Filipino fighter has already proved his legend status in the sports, having been a two-time champion in the lightweight division.
Read: Folayang starts new chapter in Singapore against Australian foe
And just like Folayang, Caruso wanted to prove to the world that he's a top-caliber athlete of his own by becoming Australia's own face of MMA.
"I want to achieve what Eduard has achieved," Caruso told Filipino sportswriters in a virtual press conference Friday. "He's the legend of this division and the legend of his country. And to do that, you gotta beat the legend."
Since his professional debut in 2013, Caruso rode on a 7-0 win streak until Dutchman Pieter Buist, the same man who defeated Folayang in his recent fight last January, spoiled the Australian's ONE Championship debut by handing him his first loss in October last year.
Despite both fighters yielding to World No. 3 Buist, Caruso, who is known for his versatility in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, vowed to surprise Folayang by bringing "himself" to the Circle.
Read: Folayang ready for tough test
"He has never fought me before and yes, he's seen boxers, wrestlers, but he has never fought me," said Caruso, who is six years younger than Folayang. "That's what exactly what I'm bringing to the ring. He's gonna deal with me."
"I can't wait to put on a show and put on a performance the world will never forget," he added.