MANILA, Philippines -- Despite taking on a younger fighter, Filipino mixed martial artist Godwin Langbayan is “100% ready” to slug it out with Singaporean opponent Sim Kai Xiong.
Langbayan and Xiong will be facing each other in the Kombat Sports Kalayaan (KSK) MMA festival on April 28th in Makati.
They will be fighting for the KSK MMA championship.
The 34-year-old Langbayan said that while he will be facing the 26-year-old Singaporean, he is ready to stake his undefeated streak in the MMA bout.
“I can’t say I’m 100% confident, but I can say I’m 100% ready. And even though he’s younger, I can say that all of my experiences in the past two years with the national sambo team [will be an advantage], especially that I fought last year in the world championship of Sambo,” he told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
“I already fought a European champion at 71 kilograms. We are fighting at 62 kilos right now. So, I am ready to slug it out, in striking, grappling,” he added.
Xiong was earlier part of the Road to UFC Season 2. He was also part of the UFC performance institute.
Despite these, Langbayan bared that he believes his opponent is “not that high level” based on what he saw in the past fights.
“I already saw him fight at a local promotion here in the Philippines last 2019, so I already saw how he fights.”
The Langbayan-Xiong fight is the main event of the KSK MMA festival.
Also in the fight card is a bout between Filipino MMA superstar Mark Striegl and Paige Alitao; Elorde Sandigon and Andriawan Dharmita; and Joemar Gallaza and Robertson Abion.