China’s Hu Yong pummels Thailand’s Yodkaikaew Fairtex.
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158119/one-championship-chinas-wolf-warrior-hu-yong Mixed Martial Arts
ONE Championship: China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ Hu Yong sees Yuya Wakamatsu fight as short cut to flyweight title shot
- Hu fights No 3-ranked flyweight contender Wakamatsu at ONE: Winter Warriors on Friday in Singapore
- The bout is only Hu’s second in ONE, but he’s ‘very hopeful’ a title shot against champ Moraes will be next
Hu Yong celebrates his decision win over Yodkaikaew Fairtex. Photos: ONE Championship
Chinese flyweight Hu Yong is just getting started in ONE Championship, but he already believes a title shot is in within reach.
After winning four fights in ONE Hero Series, part of the promotion’s talent-scouting programme in China, Hu made his debut on its main roster in March, defeating Thailand’s Yodkaikaew Fairtex by unanimous decision.
That victory set “Wolf Warrior” (7-2) up for a massive opportunity: a fight against No 3-ranked flyweight contender Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE: Winter Warriors on Friday in Singapore.
The 26-year-old Japanese knockout artist is a stern test for Hu, but one he is confident of passing.
“This is the first time I’m getting off the prelim card, and it seems like I’m a lot lower than [Wakamatsu], but I am fully confident in this fight,” Hu said. “I would say he’s the easiest opponent in the top five.”
Hu’s confidence stems from the tape study he has done on Wakamatsu. He claims to have dissected all of his rival’s fights in ONE, and discovered a few things he might be able to capitalise on.
Yuya Wakamatsu punches Geje Eustaquio.
“I have watched all of his ONE Championship fights, and he throws zero kicks and single punches,” Hu said. “He punches really fast, [he’s] really powerful, and his punching comes from out of nowhere, but I think his combinations are kind of weak. My advantage is my combinations.”
Wakamatsu has earned 11 of his 14 victories by way of knockout, most notably thumping former flyweight champion Geje Eustaquio, but Hu feels that is partly because he has been fighting stationary targets.
“He has a very strong right hand, for sure, but all the opponents he’s been knocking out have got weak movement and that’s not my style,” Hu said. “I’ve been training for this fight for a very long time. I’ve got very good movement right now, so I don’t think his knockout power will threaten me any more.”
Heading into Winter Warriors, it is widely believed Wakamatsu is already deserving of a shot at ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes.
If Hu is able to win, he believes he can steal the Japanese puncher’s spot at the front of the queue.
“If [Wakamatsu] can get [a title shot], definitely I should get it if I win the fight,” he said. “I’m very hopeful to get the title shot.”
If a title shot against Moraes does not happen for Hu, fights with other top flyweight contenders, such as former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, are also appealing.
“I’d love to fight with guys like ‘Mighty Mouse’ for sure, and I have full confidence in myself if I ever fight that level of fighter,” he said.
Hu’s first priority, of course, is getting by Wakamatsu, and he intends to do so in emphatic fashion.
“I would like to trade striking with my opponent,” he said, providing a forecast for the fight. “I think he has weaker movement than me, so I’m going to mix my movement, my punches and kicks, and win this victory.
“I want to knock him out in round two, with my punch.”