ONE: Key adjustments for Drex Zamboanga after successful debut
By Carlo Anolin
Filipino fighter Drex Zamboanga admitted that there will be major adjustments on his training despite a successful debut in ONE Championship.
Despite the victory, Zamboanga said there were parts in his performance he wasn't satisfied.
"My guard was way too low, and I didn’t have that head movement," Zamboanga said. "I was also a little flatfooted in there. I have to make adjustments to my diet too, and not have so much ice cream and cheat days."
Zamboanga's initial plan was to trade strikes with Sornsirisuphathin, but the latter withstood the Filipino's punches. This prompted Zamboanga to take the game to the canvas.
"In the second round, I switched things up and wanted to test his grappling, which is why I was able to get the submission,” said Zamboanga, who executed a rear-naked choke with two seconds left -- exactly at the 4:58 mark – before the end of the second round.
“I was surprised he gave up the back so easily. The rear-naked choke was there and I took it. Once the choke was in deep, I knew I had it.”
Drex, his sister Denice, and training partner and friend Fritz Biagtan are holed up in Bangkok, Thailand, and continue their training due to travel restrictions brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
READ: Denice and Drex Zamboanga want to become world champions – like the Lee siblings
Now that he knows the feeling of stepping into the Circle, the "T-Rex" is more than ready on what lies ahead of his ONE Championship career.
“I’m so happy I was able to get the win. Getting the opportunity to compete, especially in these times, is a blessing. I’m lucky I can continue to do what I love to do, training and competing. ONE Championship is such a different environment from my previous experiences. They treat their fighters well.”