ONE Championship: Garry Tonon says No 5 ranking is ‘generous’ but still wants title shot at Martin Nguyen
- Tonon reveals there is ‘still talk’ of him facing ONE featherweight champion Nguyen
- ‘If it’s right, I’d love that fight,’ says American, who is happy to take out any of the contenders above him to get there
Garry Tonon certainly can’t be accused of lacking confidence in his ability.
But if you were to think he is arrogant, you would be mistaken – just ask him about ONE Championship’s new rankings, released for the first time in May.
“I’m not super familiar. I remember it coming out and a couple of people letting me know that I was ranked No 5. I actually think in a way they’re [ONE] being somewhat generous,” Tonon told SCMP MMA’s Post Fight Podcast. “Because I am 5-0, so, I dunno, maybe that’s me being humble.”
The grappling sensation, hailing from the notorious Danaher Death Squad in New Jersey, made a blistering start to his MMA career with five wins in the space of 14 months in ONE Championship, putting the Asian promotion’s featherweight division on notice.
After calling out 155-pound champ Martin Nguyen, the American had to make do with an unnamed, undefeated contender coming in from the outside. Tonon was all set to fight before the global outbreak of the coronavirus put paid to April’s ONE: Infinity card in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.