Fritz “Kid Tornado” Biagtan is taking extra precautions before his return to the ONE Championship ring. 

Months after his impressive debut earlier this year, Biagtan takes on Deepak Bhardwaj in a three-round flyweight MMA bout at ONE Friday Fights 38 on Friday, Oct. 27, inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

While he’s coming in as the more experienced man, the Filipino doesn’t want to entertain the idea that he’s the favorite. Instead, he’s taking the complete opposite approach.

“I wouldn’t want to call him my ‘stepping stone’ because he’s dangerous,” he said. 

“I look at it as we’re equal, or me as an underdog. I try to come out with a hungry mentality.” 

There isn’t much to work with when it comes to scouting, but with the little videos he did find of Bhardwaj online, Biagtan expects this to be a clash of styles. 

He comes from a renowned fighting family, with his dad Ray known as one of the pioneer Muay Thai coaches in the country – evident with the way he fights. 

Bhardwaj, on the other hand, favors the grappling game. He often takes his opponents into deep water while actively looking for submissions. 

For “Kid Tornado,” it’s all about acknowledging his opponent’s strengths while putting on a show for the fans in attendance. 

“I watched some of his fights on YouTube. He’s a very good grappler. Most of his fights are contested on the ground. I expect him to strike for a bit, go for the takedown and control,” he said. 

“Now I need to play it smart, but at the same time I want to put on a good show. I don’t want to put on a boring fight. That’s all I can say.”

While he’s still far from where he wants to be, Biagtan knows that it’s fights like this that will get him there. 

“I believe I'm still not there yet. I don’t think I haven’t faced a big name yet, so my goal is to get a contract and fight someone in the top five, hopefully by next year,” he said.  

“As a fighter, you need to challenge yourself. You have to pressure yourself in a sense, for you to know what you’re capable of. I know I still have a lot to build on. I’m still learning. I know I have a lot to learn in MMA. I’m just starting.”