Team Lakay's Lito Adiwang is confident to shoot for the win when he faces top-ranked world strawweight Jarred Brooks in ONE on TNT II at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on April 14.
Speaking to reporters during a recent media availability, Adiwang said he will be relying on his classic striking and improved wrestling while maintaining the technical approach from his previous fight, which saw him capture a second-round knockout victory over Japanese foe Namiki Kawahara.
READ: Adiwang overcomes ‘toughest fight camp’ to beat Kawahara
"Nakita ko 'yung base niya ay wrestling so talagang ine-expect na mahigpit 'yung control niya and mabilis 'yung mga takedown attempts niya (I've seen his previous fights and I noticed that his base is wrestling so I expect that he has good control and fast takedown attempts), " said the 27-year-old Adiwang. "And once na nakuha ka sa magandang position, mahirap kang makawala so yon ang mga ine-expect ko sa kanya at 'yon 'yong mga nakikita kong strengths niya (Once he captures you to a good position, it will be hard to escape and that's what I expect from him and I see that as his strength)."
But it wouldn't be a problem if the fight progresses with both fighters standing on their feet as the Igorot warrior has full confidence with his explosive striking, which he considered as a huge advantage over the American wrestler.
"I think parang masasabi ko na Grade 1 (Brooks) to Grade 6 (Adiwang) (He's like Grade 1 in striking while I'm a sixth-grader)," said the former ONE No. 5 strawweight, who owns a 12-3 record, on comparing their striking prowess.
Brooks, for his part, is banking on a 16-2 slate with one no-contest decision as he enters the Circle for the first time two weeks from now.
Brooks, considered as the No. 1 strawweight in the world, has an impressive mixed martial arts resume. He has two UFC wins and two losses in UFC Fight Night.
But if there's one takeaway here should the "Thunder Kid" win, that is to prove his doubters wrong yet again.
" to get the win and make sure na ipakita ko sa fans natin na I’m really here, nandito ako to win and to become big (I want to get the win and make sure to show the fans that I'm really here. I'm here to win and become big)."