Meng Bo Plans To Continue World Title Quest With KO Of Santos
Meng Bo has been one of the most dominant forces in the atomweight mixed martial arts division over the past year and a half, and she intends to continue exerting her dominance on Friday, 22 January.
That night, the Chinese knockout artist will stand across the Circle from former ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title challenger Samara “Marituba” Santos at ONE: UNBREAKABLE in Singapore.
Meng, the #2-ranked atomweight contender, feels good about her recent training camp and is riding a tremendous wave of momentum.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the ring until the bell rings and the different fighting styles clash. All you can rely on is your preparation,” the 24-year-old says. “Besides, I’m fully confident [about] my techniques.”
The Chinese star has every right to feel confident.
In her promotional debut at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS in November 2019, Meng knocked out another former ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title challenger, Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin, in less than three minutes.
She followed up that stellar first-round victory with an even more impressive performance, knocking out Indonesia’s top atomweight, Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, in just 86 seconds at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX II last November.
“My style is stand-up fighting, however, I’m also great at ground fighting,” Meng says. “By the way, I prefer to KO opponents ASAP.”
Santos, however, will offer a stiff challenge.
The Brazilian Mixed Martial Arts Champion is a proven finisher, with eight of her 11 professional victories coming via knockout or submission.
Soon after joining ONE in 2018, Santos competed in the heavier strawweight division, where she pushed battle-hardened divisional queen “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan and even threatened with a rear-naked choke and armbar in the early portion of that World Title challenge.
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Now, “Marituba” will be competing in a weight class that’s more suited to her frame, and Meng knows that her opponent will bring a versatile skill set to the table.
“She’s a really tough fighter,” the Chinese athlete says. “She’s a Brazilian, [and she’s] pretty good at ground fighting. But from what I’ve observed in her previous fights, she shows better skills in stand-up fighting, especially her swing in mid-to-late rounds.”
Still, Meng strongly believes she will leave the Singapore Indoor Stadium with her 16th career victory.
“Truth be told, no matter what her weaknesses or strengths are, I can totally defeat her in any aspect,” the atomweight veteran says.
Should Meng indeed achieve victory at ONE: UNBREAKABLE – especially in highlight-reel fashion – she would be well-positioned for a spot in the future ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix.
Competing in that prestigious tournament would give the Chinese knockout artist the perfect opportunity to earn a World Title fight against reigning atomweight queen “Unstoppable” Angela Lee.
“I’m so interested in participating [in the] ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix,” Meng says.
“My ranking in the atomweight division is #2, and through the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix, I can showcase all my training and skills to fans. Most importantly, I can prove that I have all the talent to challenge the champion.”
Read more: 5 Reasons To Be Excited For ONE: UNBREAKABLE
