Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang believes in the fists of Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga and how the Filipina will finally bring home the ONE Atomweight belt.
Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang is 100 percent confident in his compatriot Denice "The Menace" Zamboanga as the Filipina atomweight eyes her first taste of gold this Saturday.
Zamboanga takes on Alyona Rassohyna for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 27 on January 11 inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 31-year-old Adiwang has seen how the T-Rex MMA representative has grown into a complete martial artist, and he’s confident it will show come fight night.
“She’s got all the advantages in this fight for sure, and this is her fight for the taking,” he said.
One of the most entertaining strikers in the promotion, “Thunder Kid” put the shine on Zamboanga’s own skills – particularly her boxing. He has noticed how the Filipina’s hands have been improving with each fight.
And if Zamboanga comes into this fight on a new level like she always does, Adiwang believes she’ll dominate the striking exchanges.
“Striking-wise, I think for as long as she has prepared for it, she’ll have the advantage because of her boxing. She also has kicks in her arsenal. It might come in sparingly, but it’s powerful,” he said.
“Her boxing is really sharp. She’s got the sharper hands. She’s also got power in those hands.”
The SOMA Fight Club representative also shared how Zamboanga can keep the fight standing, owing to her size advantage and excellent defensive grappling. This could give Zamboanga an edge in this fight.
“When it comes to the ground game, I think she can stop Alyona’s takedowns. She’s got the skills and the strength to do so. She’s also bigger, and I feel like her size advantage will be crucial in this fight,” Adiwang said.
That’s why Adiwang is hopeful that Zamboanga will finally get her breakthrough, especially after several opportunities slipped from the Filipina’s hands, mostly because of things beyond her control.
“I wish her nothing but the best for this fight. She deserves this,” Adiwang said.
“I will say this is her fight to lose for sure.”