Adiwang wants ONE world title

FLYWEIGHT Lito Adiwang is keen to get a shot at the ONE Championship world title.

The 27- year- old Adiwang, who holds a professional record of 11 wins against two defeats is currently training in Baguio under coach Mark Sangiao of the famed Team Lakay.

“Training at Team Lakay is intense,” said Adiwang. “There are instances when we are really deep in training and we let loose and forget to hold back. There’s the occasional heavy shot we land here and there or sometimes we put each other in some painful submission.”

“But we’re all professionals and we know it’s part of the game. We just say sorry and continue with no hard feelings. After all, we’re like brothers here,” he added.

Adiwang caught the attention of local mixed martial arts fans with his ferocious performance in Rich Franklin’s reality TV show ONE Warrior Series. The engagement also earned him a six- figure contract and entry into ONE Championship’s main roster.

Like his unblemished record of three wins (two via knockout) in ONE Warrior Series, Adiwang’s slate in ONE Championship is unblemished highlighted by his latest conquests — a TKO win over Senzo Ikeda and a submission victory over Pongsiri Mitsatit.

“My personal goal is to be known as one of the best fighters in the division. Of course, I want to eventually compete for a world title. It’s every athlete’s dream to become a world champion,” said Adiwang who earned the nickname “Thunder Kid” for his striking prowess.

Adiwang is entitled to book a fight with another Team Lakay standout Joshua Pacio, the current ONE Championship strawweight belt champion, but the former wants to take on other foes instead, among them Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Yoshitaka Naito, Alex Silva, Yosuke Saruta and Demetrious Johnson, the ONE World Grand Prix titlist and a former 12- time Ultimate Fighting Championship champ.

Adiwang is hoping to fight Johnson should the latter steal the ONE flyweight world title from Adriano Moraes in their scheduled bout sometime this year.

“That would be a dream come true for me. Demetrious Johnson is the best in the world right now, in my opinion. And I’ve dreamed of facing him since I started my career,” he said.

“Before, that was just an impossible dream. But now that he’s with ONE Championship, it’s closer to reality.”