Wazzup Pilipinas!
Filipina mixed martial arts fighter Jujeath Nagaowa, who will be making her ONE Fighting Championship debut on May 2 in ONE FC Rise of Heroes at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, guarantees she is more “inspired” to fight now that she has broken off with her boxer boyfriend.
In an interview, Nagaowa said: “I’m inspired 10 times now that he’s no longer around.” When pointed to her the statement seems contradictory, her only answer is, “Basta.”
She revealed through questioning that it’s been three months since the breakup. “Naka move on na ko.”
Her having a boyfriend was an issue during her training last year when she was supposed to fight Malaysian muay thai contender Siti Syahida Binte Adek, a bout which was scrapped at the last minute. Her relationship was reportedly interfering in her training.
Nagaowa will be battling Indian kickboxing champion Jeet Toshi on May 2. She is aware of the importance of the fight as she is the first female mixed martial arts fighter from the Philippines seeking her rightful place
in the male-dominated sport.
She said she is not taking her fight with Toshi lightly. “Magaling din sya pero kakayanin ko.”
To prepare herself, she has joined a new gym, the Makati-based Team Insider. Her training regimen includes jogging in the morning and 2 to 3-hour skills drill in the afternoon seven days a week.
Her new gym provides her with monthly allowance, food and accommodation within the gym compound.
“May training program na binigay sa akin yung gym ko sa laban ko na eto,” Nagaowa said.
She said despite the cancelled bout last December, she maintained her conditioning. As a matter of fact, she was hired as a boxing sparring partner in Japan in February this year.
Prior to joining the ONE FC organization, the Benguet lass used to be the WBC Asia atomweight champion who has beaten the best boxers in Asia. She was a boxer for seven years.
Her aspiration is to become an MMA champion. “I dream of defending a belt in the future.”
Nagaowa has good footwork that she uses to get out of her opponents’ punches and has knockout power in both hands.
Toshi, on the other hand, is a seven-time kickboxing titlist from India, where she is considered the pioneer for female MMA.
Tickets for ONE FC: RISE OF HEROES are on sale now at SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience for VIPs at PHP 6,360, followed by Patron PHP 3,180, Lower Box PHP 1,280, Upper Box PHP 640 and General Admission PHP 220. Prices include ticketing fee.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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