HINDI matatawaran ang tagumpay sa wushu ni Pinoy fighter Rene Catalan.
Ngunit, mailap ang tagumpay sa 38-anyos wushu champion nang sumabak sa mixed martial arts (MMA) simula 2013.
At tulad nang tagumpay na nakamit niya noong 2006 Asian Games sa Doha, mistulang tumama sa lotto si Catalan nang maitala ang kauna-unahang panalo bilang isang MMA campaigner sa ONE FC promotion nitong Setyembre.
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Nadomina ni Catalan si Chinese combatant Zhang You Liang para makamit ang panalo sa straw weight class via unanimous decision sa ONE: UNBREAKABLE WARRIORS.
Matapos ang impresibong panalo kay Zhang, target ni Catalan na maitala ang back-to-back win sa pakikipagtuos kay ONE Straw weight Indonesian Tournament Champion Adrian Matheis (3-1) sa ONE: QUEST FOR POWER sa Enero 14 sa Jakarta, Indonesia.
Kumpiyansa si Catalan na makakalusot kay Matheis na aniya’y isang oportunidad na magbubukas para lalaong tumaas ang level sa MMA career.
“This is my chance to establish my first winning streak in ONE Championship. It’s not impossible. That’s why I am exerting a tremendous amount of effort in training. I want to keep on winning,” sambit ni Catalan.
Aniya, ang tagumpay sa ONE ay isang paraan para muling mabigyan ng karangalan ang Pilipinas.
“I am inspired to win the fight because I am representing the Philippines. It is always an honor to fight for my country. My goal in this fight is to win and bring pride to my nation,” aniya.
“I still believe that my striking is better than his stand-up game. I am very comfortable in that aspect. If he wants to strike with me, it will be my pleasure,” aniya.
Umaasa si Catalan na ang tagumpay kay Matheis ay magiging daan para makuha ang pagkakataon na hamunin si Yoshitaka Naito para sa ONE Strawweight World Championship.
“Every fighter dreams to become a world champion. I really hope that ONE Championship will give me an opportunity to fight for the title in the future. This fight might be the door to a world title fight. Let us all hope for the best,” pahayag ni Catalan.
