Former ONE flyweight champion Kairat Akhmetov (26-2) will face Rhys McLaren at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III, the main event of which will decide the fate of the division belt. Akhmetov, who is on a five-game winning streak, has not competed since last June. He previously faced McLaren in 2019 when, after three tough rounds, the judges unanimously gave Akhmetov the win.
– Kairat, you have McLaren as your opponent for the second time – do you expect something new from him in this fight?
– It’s been four years since the last fight – we’ve both grown as fighters. I don’t think what kind of arsenal he has now, but is focused on himself. In battle, we will see who is the best and who really deserves to fight for the championship belt.
You lost your belt in 2017. How soon will you be able to fight for the belt again?
“I did enough for a title fight a long time ago. Moraes and Johnson have their third fight in our division. I can’t stay that long, that’s why I accepted the fight with McLaren, although I don’t want to fight the same opponent twice. Without the Johnson and Moraes trilogy, then I would have fought for the title already, but everything has its time.
You and Rhys are known for your fieldwork. But your opponent was seriously working on the stand during training camp. He trained with John Wayne Parr, an incredible drummer. Do you think that will help him?
– John is a good Thai boxer, a star of this sport, but he will not fight for Rhys in a cage. I also raised the position – I trained in kickboxing and Thai boxing. We don’t have a decisive match. We are both basic wrestlers: he is a grappler, I am a Greco-Roman wrestler, our chances in the stands are equal. Personally, I am ready to fight in all aspects.
– ONE pays big bucks for knockouts and brilliant performances – up to $100,000. Is the bonus a good motivation to beat the opponent?
– I’m always motivated to win earlier than expected, but I try not to dwell on it. When you only want to win sooner than expected, you either start hesitating or rushing. I think the best thing to do is log in all five rounds and try your luck as the fight progresses.
What is your own prediction for this fight?
– Winning earlier than expected is the ideal end to the fight, but my prediction is that we will fight all five rounds.
The ONE Fight Night 10 Map Broadcast: Johnson v Moraes III will begin the Match! Fighter” at 2:55 a.m. on May 6.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
