Sunoto Prepared To Finish Muhammad Aiman at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES

ONE: DAWN OF HEROES  is so stacked with incredible bouts, even the first match on the card features two experienced veterans of ONE Championship.

Next Friday, 2 August “The Terminator” Sunoto will return to action and aim continue his climb up ONE Championship’s bantamweight division.

However, the Indonesian mixed martial arts pioneer will have his work cut out against Muhammad “Jungle Cat” Aiman in Manila, Philippines at the Mall Asia Arena.

The 34-year-old from Jakarta is coming off a dominant victory over Paul “The Great King” Lumihi at ONE: FOR HONOR in May.

He would have loved to have returned to the Circle before now, and reveals he was offered a match against “Rock Man” Chen Lei at ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST, but because he was fasting, he could not accept.

Instead, he will face a man who could help him toward his goal of competing for a ONE World Title much more quickly.

Malaysia’s “Jungle Cat” beat Chen last year, and is one of his country’s most popular and talented young athletes, which Sunoto knows first-hand after sharing the mats with the 24-year-old in the past.

“He’s good. He’s a well-rounded fighter – tall and with a long reach. However, I might have the upper hand in power,” the IndoGym and Team Phantom MMA representative says.

“From his fights, we can see his strengths and weaknesses. We have also met before, so I can analyze him from that, too. Clearly, he has great stamina due to his youth, and he practices at Bali MMA.

“Bali MMA [athletes] are typically wrestlers. They have lots of trainers who mastered wrestling, and they have great takedown defense. I know this because I’ve had my share of practice there over two months, where I met Aiman.”

Despite Aiman’s aptitude for defensive grappling, “The Terminator” believes he will still be able to get him to the ground and take control in trademark style.

He knows he will have to be at his best to find a way past his rival’s dangerous striking, but he has worked hard since May to sharpen his boxing and Muay Thai skills with specialist trainers.

That, combined with his continuous focus on wrestling, should give him the tools to get his hand raised.

“He’s good in striking because he has a Muay Thai background. He will try to impose his striking, and he will anticipate my takedowns.

“I have also anticipated this, and I have worked on my striking – I box a lot. I am prepared to play in any areas, but I think he will try more striking, while I will implement my usual game plan and take him on the mat.

“I have a target to finish him, but I think it will be difficult.”

A win – by whatever method – will be Sunoto‘s 10th in The Home Of Martial Arts, which would be a record for an Indonesian athlete.

That gives the man from Jakarta a little more motivation to win, as does his status as the only man from his country on the bill in Manila.

Sunoto regularly competes in his homeland, but he has no trouble competing on foreign soil – especially in a venue like the Mall Of Asia Arena.

“The atmosphere in Manila is always extraordinary. Although it is only prelims, it will still be exciting because our abilities are comparable to those who are in the main card,” he adds.

“I believe I can win at this event. My preparation has been great – I have found my ideal weight and preparation time, and I am ready.”