Miado seeks to end slump with MMA career hanging in balance

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino mixed martial artist Jeremy Miado is eyeing to finally break his three-match losing streak as he faces Hiroba Minowa at ONE Fight Night 23 this weekend. 

The 31-year-old, who suffered three straight losses against Russia’s Mansur Malachiev, fellow Filipino Lito Adiwang and Japan’s Keito Yamakita, will try to return to his winning ways against the no. 4 ranked strawweight contender in Minowa inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand on Saturday. 

And for Miado, the fight will be a do-or-die contest.

“We’re talking about my career here. That’s what this fight means for me. I’m gonna give it my all, you’re gonna see it all. I’m not going to lose here,” Miado said. 

The 24-year-old Minowa has also lost his past three contests, which makes the stakes higher. 

"The Jaguar" said that he expects the match to be “a game of chess.” 

“From what I’ve seen from Minowa, he’s someone who doesn’t give up. He really has that fighter’s heart. He’s young and hungry,” Miado said. 

“We’re both coming off bad streaks, and we both know that this is our way back to relevancy. I expect him to come out ready. It’s all about formulating the proper game plan,” he added. 

The Filipino said that he is planning to keep the match on the feet. 

“He might be better than me on the ground, but our gap is bigger when it comes to striking,” he underscored.

“He’s improving on the feet, for sure, but it’s going to be a lot different when he feels my power. Once he feels it, I know he’ll scramble and shoot for a quick takedown.” 

ONE Fight Night 23 will have Ok Rae Yoon against Alibeg Rasulov as its main event. 

The two fighters will slug it out for the interim lightweight MMA world championship. 

Tye Ruotolo and Jozef Chen will also face each other in a catchweight submission grappling bout. 

Nico Carrillo and Saemapetch Fairtex will battle it out in a bantamweight Muay Thai match.