Baatarkhuu grateful for the long-awaited title opportunity
The 36-year-old Mongolian, who plays the leading role Physical: Asia on Netflixhas methodically climbed the bantamweight rankings since earning his ONE Championship contract by winning the 2022 Road to ONE: Mongolia tournament. Baatarkhuu has a career record of 13-3 and he is on a three-fight winning streak with impressive victories over previously undefeated Carlo Bumina-ang, South American knockout artist Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte and No. 5 ranked Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw in his most recent appearance at ONE Fight Night 29 last March.
Baatarkhuu expressed his deep appreciation for receiving his first main event assignment, while acknowledging the immense pressure that comes with fighting for championship gold. The Team Tungaa representative sees this opportunity as a validation of the years he has spent perfecting his craft in the challenging Mongolian training environment, where harsh conditions and limited resources have shaped some of mixed martial arts’ toughest competitors.
“I am very happy with that [ONE] is putting together such a high-level matchup. I believe they value my skills and trust me to deliver a strong performance. This is actually the pinnacle of martial arts. It is a real test to see if my skills are really at a high level,” said Baatarkhuu.
Champion Andrade presents a formidable challenge for Baatarkhuu
Baatarkhuu will face the most dangerous threat in the bantamweight division when he enters the Circle against Andrade on December 5. The Brazilian champion, who expressed his desire to fight the Mongol earlier this year, brings a perfect ONE Championship record into this title defense, posting an impressive 10-2 overall MMA mark with an 80 percent finish rate that left opponents sprawled across the canvas during his promotional stint.
Andrade’s striking arsenal has proven devastating at the highest levels of competition, as evidenced by his brutal victories over former defending champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker and the spectacular 42-second knockout of “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il on ONE 170 last January. The Brazilian’s finishing instincts extend beyond mixed martial arts, with more than 40 victories in combined Muay Thai and kickboxing matches, demonstrating his striking qualities at the elite level across multiple disciplines.
“Fabricio is very skilled and talented. He has had many title fights and claimed the championship in his weight category. This is not something that someone with limited skills can do. He is a very skilled top-level fighter,” the Mongolian challenger acknowledged.
Jadambaa’s legacy inspires Baatarkhuu’s championship pursuit
Former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Natantungalag “Tunga” Jadaba has served as a coach and inspiration during Baatarkhuu’s journey to title contention. The retired pioneer captured ONE Championship gold by defeating Koji Oishi in August 2014, becoming the first Mongolian to reach that milestone while opening doors for a generation of fighters from his home country.
Baatarkhuu credits Jadambaa’s guidance as the catalyst that transformed him from a regional competitor into a legitimate world-class fighter capable of challenging for ONE World Title gold. “The Tormentor,” as the challenger is known, has absorbed invaluable lessons while training alongside his mentor for more than a decade, learning the mental strength and expertise needed to succeed at the highest levels of MMA.
“Watching my trainer compete in ONE Championship ignited in me a secret desire to follow in his footsteps. I am absolutely thrilled that my wish has finally come true. And I will try to repeat his feat of 11 years ago,” Baatarkhuu said.
ONE Fight Night 38 will air live on Prime Video on Friday, December 5. The action starts at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the US and Canada.
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