Ev hopes to bounce back against Japanese champ Suzuki
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Ev Ting (pic) is looking for a quick rebound when he takes on Japan’s Nobutatsu Suzuki in the ONE: Quest For Greatness at Stadium Negara on Aug 18.
Ev’s four-match winning run came to a halt after by unanimous decision to ONE Championship lightweight defending champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang in the ONE Championship: King of Destiny in Manila on April 21.
The win improved Folayang’s record to 18-5 while the New Zealand-based Ev’s dropped to 13-4.
Kuala Lumpur, however, has been a happy hunting ground for Ev, who is unbeaten in seven matches at home.
No wonder the 27-year-old is looking forward to getting his eighth win on home soil next month.
“It’s always exciting to get into the cage and fight. I just wish I could do it more often,” said Ev, who is based in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.
“I’m undefeated on home turf in seven bouts, so it will be fun throwing some bones.
“It’s always good catching up and fighting alongside the Malaysian A-Team of the Subba brothers (Gianni and Keanu), Agilan (Thani), Aiman (Muhd Aiman Raziz Affendy) and Ann (Osman).”
Ev said he has moved on from the loss to Folayang and that he has been working hard with conditioning coach Makoto Endo to raise his game.
He expects the fight with Suzuki to be a treat to all MMA fans as his Japanese opponent’s striking abilities are renowned in ONE Championship.
“I’m now back at the Auckland MMA reinventing my game and also working closely with Endo to make me stronger and faster,” said Ev.
“Suzuki is a former ONE Champion with notable wins and legit striking. It will be a tight fight and you don’t want to miss this one.”
The other Malaysians on the fight card next month include Ann, Agilan, Gianni and Keanu.
Agilan, who lost in the title fight against reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren on May 26, will meet Egyptian Sherif “The Shark” Mohamed.
The other bouts will pit Ann against Singapore’s May Ooi (strawweight); Gianni against Japan’s Riku Shibuya (flyweight); and Keanu against Singapore’s Christian Lee (featherweight).