Jeremy Miado Hopes To Bring Rare Dream To Life Next Year

Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado did not have a dream start to 2019, but he was able to finish the year with a bang.

The 27-year-old Filipino fell to his old foe, former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, in a rematch at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS in Singapore this past February.

However, he valiantly stormed his way back to victory at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS in Beijing, China in November. Miado knocked out the surging home favorite Miao Li Tao in the second round with a flying knee to close the year on a high.

In this exclusive interview, “The Jaguar” talks about that emotional victory, his plans for 2020, and the rare dream he hopes to achieve in the coming year.

ONE Championship: Your 2019 was split, with a tough loss and an incredible win. Overall, what are your thoughts on your recent year in ONE Championship?

Jeremy Miado: I’m happy with it because I got to close it out with a big win. I was really disappointed with my loss to Dejdamrong because I felt like all my training went to waste just because I couldn’t get my weight right. It negatively contributed to my stamina in that match, but at least I was able to correct it the next time around to get that win over Miao.

ONE: Let’s talk about that win. Miao had you in trouble with a guillotine choke, but you escaped and later surprised him with a flying knee. Was that part of the game plan?

JM: Yes, it was really part of our game plan. After I accepted the match, I studied his matches over and over to see his tendencies. We prepared a couple of striking combinations using punches, as well as the flying knee.

ONE: You were visibly elated with the win. You even danced in the ring. Did you practice those dance moves beforehand?

JM: No, it was really just brought about by my happiness. There were two Filipinos who didn’t win their respective matches earlier in the night, and I was against one of the more dangerous hometown fighters on the card. It’s really difficult to compete in your opponent’s home country because all you could hear is your name being introduced.

ONE: Outside the Circle, what was your favorite moment of 2019?

JM: Our baby boy came into this world in July. It was definitely the best moment of my 2019, and he gives me another source of inspiration.

ONE: Good thing you were still able to train, even with the lack of sleep an infant could cause.

JM: Yes, my wife and I actually decreased our training time ever since he came into our lives. However, when we do train, we still train at full intensity. We just needed to cut the time because of our baby, as our gym is quite far from our home.

ONE: Speaking of your wife, she also competes in mixed martial arts. How hands-on are you with her training?

JM: Whatever training regimen I go through, she does as well. She has also been helping me with my preparations ever since my knockout victory against Dejdamrong last year. She is simulating what my opponents would do, which has been instrumental in keeping me sharp and seeing the different ways to counter my opponent’s tendencies.

ONE: Couples like Bruno Pucci and Angela Lee, as well as Shannon Wiratchai and Rika Ishige, compete in ONE. Do you and your wife hope to follow suit?

JM: We’re hoping to get a couple of impressive wins that could spark interest from ONE because it’s really a dream for us. She is in a good position, as there is no Filipina at 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) currently on the roster.

ONE: What are you expecting from 2020, in terms of your career in the Circle?

JM: Right now, I’m a bit busy. Training has been light, mostly because I’m just trying to maintain my skills. However, once January rolls along, I’ll turn up the notch again just to be ready for the next match, which could happen at anytime.

I think stringing together wins could help me compete more often, like three or four times a year. I’m hoping to compete against a contender next year to get me ready for a potential World Title challenge.

ONE: Any particular opponent you would like to face?

JM: I really want to stand in the cage against Adrian Mattheis. He’s a talented striker, so I do want to compete against him. I think we would be able to put on a great show for the fans. However, I’m ready and willing to take on anyone else that ONE will put in front of me.

ONE: Would you want a trilogy bout with Dejdamrong?

JM: I would, but not in the immediate future. I want to climb up the ranks again and compete against other fighters before I challenge him for that trilogy bout.

ONE: Finally, do you have some personal goals you want to achieve in 2020?

JM: Like everyone else, having a successful career is at the top of my personal goals. But also, I hope I can help my wife make a name for herself next year to prove she belongs in the elite company of ONE.

Read more: Jamal Yusupov’s 2019: Life After Knocking Out Yodsanklai