Pongsiri Mitsatit Is Ready To Go The Distance With Miao Li Tao





Still over the moon after his electrifying first-round knockout victory over Robin Catalan, Thailand’s Pongsiri Mitsatit will face another sensational striker in Miao Li Tao at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES on Friday, 2 August at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila Philippines.

All the sacrifices and hard work of “The Smiling Assassin” paid off when he notched his first win after back-to-back losses that halted his nine-bout win streak.

“After that win, I felt a lot more confident about my abilities. It got me excited about fighting again,” he said.

In preparation for his clash with Miao Li Tao, a well-rounded athlete with serious knockout ability, Mitsatit turned to Tiger Muay Thai head mixed martial arts coach George Hickman to draw up a game plan that would capitalize on his opponent’s weakness.

“I want to bring this win home for Thailand, and I believe that I can knock him out. I’m training hard. George is really pushing me on the pads,” said Mitsatit.

“From what I’ve seen, [Miao] doesn’t really like knees to the body. His punches are his biggest weapon. I’m working on boxing defense and takedown defense, but I want to keep the fight standing. I think my clinch will work well against his style.”

Mitsatit respects Miao’s knockout power and his unique style but is confident he can overcome the challenges presented and get the win in Manila.

“My opponent is a boxer, but I’ve got my own punches too. I’m not scared to trade, but I won’t be careless, and I need to listen to my coaches,” he said. 

“Our clash of styles will really make for an exciting match-up. I think it is going to be a great fight, and something the fans will really enjoy.”

With enough experience under his belt, Mitsatit plans to be patient with his attacks and will only look for a finish if there is a solid opening.

“I think he will only be strong for the first round, and then he will fade after that,” says the Chiang Mai native. 

“For the first round, I plan to be tentative unless the opportunity for a knockout presents itself, and then I’ll go for it!”

A rematch with Joshua “The Passion” Pacio could be on the horizon if the 23-year-old Thai hero can defeat Miao. A win would definitely place him further along the path to the ONE Strawweight World Title.

“I’m definitely a lot more confident going into this fight, and I feel that I am getting closer to a World Title shot,” he stated. 

“If I can win this fight, I think just a few more victories will put me into World Title contention.”

About the Author

MMA Japan
MMA Japan is the best place for finding out the latest in JMMA and Asia's MMA news in English.
close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)