Filipino prospect Danny Kingad believes that his three-round flyweight encounter with division newcomer Muhammad Aiman could be his stepping-stone to the upper echelon of ONE Championship’s 61.2-kilogram weight class.
Both men are scheduled to face each other on the undercard of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which takes place at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 21 April.
Kingad sees his flyweight meeting with Aiman as the perfect platform to elevate him in the rankings of the division as his Malaysian counterpart is a former MIMMA featherweight titleholder.
In addition, Aiman is currently riding high on a two-bout winning streak, defeating Hisyam Samsudin by unanimous decision in his first match inside the ONE Championship cage while stopping Brazilian grappler Eduardo Novaes in his most recent outing.
“He had a great run in the amateur ranks as most of his wins came by submission. He was an amateur mixed martial arts champion with a 7-1 record. He has won two-straight fights as a featherweight. Now, he moves down to flyweight. It’s the perfect match-up if I want to climb the ladder of the flyweight division,” Kingad said of his opponent.
The 21-year-old Baguio City native describes his marquee match-up against Aiman as the right preparation for big bouts as he yearns to dance with the flyweight bracket’s notable names.
“In order to be the best flyweight in Asia, you have to face the best out there. Of course, I want to fight the big names of the division. Before I reach that level, I have to deal with my opponent on April 21st. He’s a remarkable fighter and always honing his craft. This is a good bout to prepare me for the big fights in the future,” Kingad stated.
With ONE Championship housing high-caliber flyweights such as Kairat Akhmetov, Adriano Moraes and Gianni Subba, Kingad asserted that his main objective in Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization is to vie for the ONE Flyweight World Championship.
However, Kingad bared that he is not in a hurry and would rather take the long road to a championship crack than prematurely vie for the gold-plated strap.
“I don’t race to be in line for that belt, but I’m racing to perfection in this sport. Every martial artist should have the sense of growth. This sport is consistently evolving, and every fighter should adapt to changes and improve their overall game,” he shared.
Although Aiman may pose a threat to Kingad’s emergent stature in the weight class, the latter leans on the learning from the forthcoming showdown as it can benefit his maturity as a prizefighter.
“I don’t want to rush things. There’s always a right moment. Every fight is a lesson. We, as fighters, gain valuable knowledge every time we train and step into the cage,” he stressed.
Kingad remains optimistic that the ONE Flyweight World Championship belt will be fastened around his waist someday.
“I am a fighter who always wishes to give you the best entertainment and the best show you will ever see inside the cage. I just want to savor each moment. That belt will be mine in God’s time,” he ended.