After Recovering From Injury, Martin Nguyen Is Ready To Defend His World Titles

Martin Nguyen ADUX9613

Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen’s next move at lightweight looks to be set, which just leaves his next ONE Featherweight World Title defense to take care of.

As it stands now, the two-division ONE World Champion might very well defend his lightweight belt next year against the winner of the Shinya Aoki versus Ev Ting bout at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES.

The Vietnamese-Australian does not want to sit on the sidelines waiting seven months for that assignment, but he does have to stay out of action for a little while longer.

Martin Nguyen DC 0298.jpg

Before he can get back in the cage, he first needs to heal an injury he sustained in his last bout against Kevin Belingon.

“I said to myself, as soon as my toe is healed, I’ll be ready to get back in. I am hoping to return in November, but we will see what happens,” Nguyen says.

“If this toe is good to go, then sometime in November is the ‘go’ time. The toe I dislocated is still sore – still a bit swollen. We’ve done a bit of rehab, and I’ve still got some more rehab, but I can actually start running, explosive jumping, and sprinting now.

“Whenever I get a little bit of a knock on it, I’m on the floor (laughs). I still have to be careful with the kicking and maneuvering, but as far as running and keeping in shape, man, I’m back in training.”

Martin Nguyen IMGL7765.jpg

Nguyen defended his featherweight belt for the first time in May, when he defeated Christian Lee via split decision at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS.

For his next opponent at featherweight, he is adamant about the man he wants to face.

After two victories in the space of three weeks earlier this year, he believes a certain Mongolian icon is the leading contender in the division.

“I want to defend my featherweight belt against Narantungalag Jadambaa. Why? I want to test myself against the best in the division,” he says.

“I want to test myself against him while he is in his prime, while he is still smashing everyone, while he is knocking out everyone, and while he is still punching and kicking.

Narantungalag Jadambaa IMG_4398.jpg

“I want to fight the best, and he is the best. He is a veteran. He is even one of the guys I watched when I started my mixed martial arts career, like when he fought Adrian Pang. Man, this guy is rock solid.

“I want to build my legacy, and I want the big fights, and the big fight for me is Jadambaa. Maybe a few months down the track, we will have the trilogy with Marat (Gafurov) – provided he wins a few fights.

More in News

Japanese kickboxing superstar Kana
Yodlekpet Or Atchariya Puengluang Baanramba ONE Friday Fights 85 15
Yodlekpet ONE Friday Fights 85
Submission grappling stars Cole Abate and Dante Leon
Oumar Kane Marcus Almeida ONE Fight Night 13 104
Reinier de Ridder Anatoly Malykhin ONE 166 39
Mayssa Bastos Danielle Kelly ONE Fight Night 24 39
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Masaaki Noiri ONE 167 85
Danny Kingad Yuya Wakamatsu ONE 165 8
ONE Championship MMA fighters Christian Lee and Alibeg Rasulov
Rodtang Jitmuangnon Denis Puric ONE 167 101
Yodlekpet Or Atchariya Komawut FA Group ONE Friday Fights 68 46