As phases go for making your debut for a fight sports activities promotion, they don’t come a lot greater than ONE Championship’s blockbuster occasion in Tokyo this weekend.
In what has boldly been proclaimed as “the most important occasion in martial arts historical past,” the Singapore-based promotion is marking its 100th main present in type by holding two playing cards on the identical day within the Japanese capital underneath the tag line ‘ONE: CENTURY’.
The occasion is because of kick off Sunday morning native time and might be broadcast within the US on TNT, with ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong estimating the hostilities will draw a large 70 million viewers worldwide.
Amid the extra acquainted names on the cardboard corresponding to ex-UFC flyweight champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson, the occasion may even function a brand new face within the type of Belarusian bombshell Ekaterina ‘Barbie’ Vandaryeva.
The 28-year-old faces American Janet Todd in an atomweight Muay Thai contest which has co-main billing in Half 1 of the festivities at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Sumida Metropolis.
Nicknamed ‘Barbie’ – considerably clearly due to her blonde hair and attractiveness – Vandaryeva makes an attention-grabbing addition to the ONE ranks, however the Belarusian is way from a fresh-faced newcomer to the world of fight sports activities.
Certainly, beneath the doll-like exterior lies a veteran of greater than 60 kickboxing bouts and a fighter who has picked up Muay Thai IFMA world and European titles, in addition to World Kickboxing Community crowns.
The final of these titles in 2011 got here via a choice victory in Minsk towards a sure Pole named Joanna Jedrzejczyk – who went on to develop into the UFC’s ladies’s strawweight champion (and who by a accident can also be slated to be in motion this weekend on a UFC Combat Night time Card in Florida, ought to she overcome reported weight reduce points).
For Vandaryeva, will probably be removed from her first expertise of preventing underneath an Asian promotion’s banner, having competed ceaselessly down the years in China’s Kunlun Combat group.
Sunday in Tokyo will, although, be a unique prospect because the Belarusian embarks on what may very well be a tilt at a Muay Thai world title problem in ONE’s atomweight ranks.
Chatting with the promotion forward of the occasion, Vandaryeva stated it could be the right stage to showcase the abilities she has acquired since taking on the game aged 16.
“Gathering belts and medals was the final word objective initially of my profession, however now getting one other medal or a belt is not a precedence,” the Minsk fighter stated.
“What I actually need is to showcase the most effective of my type and provides folks an important present. I wish to present the viewers what feminine fighters will be, and I need them to just accept us.”
In 33-year-old American Janet Todd, Vandaryeva faces a girl who already has three fights with the promotion underneath her belt since making her debut this 12 months.
The primary of these was an atomweight Muay Thai world title combat towards Stamp Fairtex which led to defeat, though ‘JT’ has since picked up two victories.
Vandaryeva assesses her American opponent as “not a foul fighter… very technical,” however believes she is going to use brains in addition to brawn to deliver her down.
“One of the best ways to take care of somebody like her is through the use of your mind – that you must rapidly analyze the state of affairs and hold every part underneath management.
“After all, I observed her robust and weak factors, however I’m in no rush to speak about it. Usually, what you discover within the ring and what you see earlier than the combat are very various things. Your opponent and the course of the combat could be a full shock,” she stated.
One approaching hazard that fighters and promoters might be cautious of is that of Hurricane Hagibis, which is barrelling in direction of Japan and is predicted to hit the mainland on Saturday.
It has already brought about disruption to the Rugby World Cup and F1 Grand Prix within the nation, though ONE officers have provided assurances that “there’s a strong contingency program in place ought to our occasion be affected.”
?? THIS SUNDAY ??
The most important martial arts occasion in historical past is nearly right here! 28 World Champions. 7 World Title bouts. 2 stacked playing cards. ONE: CENTURY in Tokyo! #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship #ONECentury pic.twitter.com/UyPYR3Kk7r— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) October 7, 2019
A cancellation to Vandaryeva’s debut can be a bitter blow, as it could to all these on the cardboard at such a highly-anticipated occasion, however the Belarusian herself has steered that she retains issues in perspective, notably for the reason that start of her son.
“I prepare, I combat, I give all of it I’ve after which I’ve my different life, which has nothing to do with martial arts,” she advised the ONE web site within the build-up to her debut.
“On this different life, I don’t watch fights, I don’t test who’s a brand new star, who’s doing what in combined martial arts or another martial artwork.”
The fighter’s social media output would seem testomony to that, as she shares simply as many images of life as a mom as she does doing the coaching that her top-level fight sports activities profession calls for.
However whereas her perspective could seem much less obsessive than some, there’s a fight sports activities beast behind Vandaryeva’s magnificence – and one which might be determined to be unleashed on one the foremost stage on Sunday.
Because the adage goes, appears will be deceiving.