Indonesian mixed martial arts champion Paul “The Great King” Lumihi is ready to put the past behind him and turn over a new leaf when he steps back inside the Circle. The 33-year-old combat sports veteran is motivated to strike one in the win column in his next contest.
Lumihi returns to action against Myanmar’s Tial “The Dragon Leg” Thang at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore, scheduled for global broadcast this Friday, 5 February.
Lumihi has taken the time to study his esteemed opponent ahead of their much-awaited showdown.
“I’ve seen a lot of his previous fights and studied him well. He and his team make very good use of calf kicks, and he has a dangerous right hook. I’m sure, given their recent losses, Tial is going to be hungry for a win. He’s no doubt going to be dangerous. I just have to make sure I’m the sharper guy in the Circle,” said Lumihi.
“He has very strong punches and has good kicks. His ground game is also very good. I need to push and put the pressure on him so he doesn’t have a chance to rest. When the bell rings, I have to be aggressive and not give him any room to attack.”
Against Thang, Lumihi faces a former amateur wrestler with solid all-around skills. “The Dragon Leg” is known for his impeccable ground game, however, with over 500 wrestling matches won over his career, in Freestyle and Greco-Roman, as well as over 50 wins in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu matches.
Lumihi knows exactly what he’s up against. Together with his team, Lumihi has crafted a sound game plan that he is confident will lead him to victory.
“Tial is an aggressive athlete, but he’s also the kind of athlete who enjoys a long fight. I think he’s accustomed to a slower pace in his bouts. That should play to my advantage, as I like to go fast and push the tempo. I’m looking to force him out of his comfort zone,” said Lumihi.
“I don’t plan on giving him any opportunities for anything. I will definitely use all of my abilities to take home the victory. I have a lot of weapons, a good sense of distance, and good defense. I’ve also sharpened my ground skills to hang with him on the mat. I’ve definitely improved my scrambles and my ability to sprawl and escape from submission attempts. I’m not going to actively pursue a ground fight, but I’ll be ready if it comes.”
ONE Championship’s ONE: UNBREAKABLE III once again hosts a series of compelling bouts featuring the world’s best martial artists.
In the main event, former ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex continues on her quest for a historic third world title. She puts her unblemished professional MMA record on the line against Ukrainian grappler Alyona Rassohyna.
Lumihi and Thang go head-to-head in the evening’s first bout.
No matter what happens in the Circle, Lumihi believes he’ll be the one with his hands raised at the end of the night.
“I switched it up in training for this camp. I wanted to focus on being more explosive. I’ve shifted most of my training to focus on high intensity routines. If I don’t get the early finish, I’m getting ready to push the pace for all three rounds,” said Lumihi.
“I think I can surprise him with my boxing, with my striking. I’m going to dominate him.”
