Ilonggo mixed martial arts fighter Rene Catalan aims to get back to world title contention when he faces South African Bokang Masunyane at ONE: BIG BANG at the Singapore Indoor Stadium tonight.
The Santa Barbara, Iloilo-native said he is hungry for redemption following his defeat at the hands of ONE Strawweight world champion Joshua Pacio last year.
“My goal is to come up and take the top ranking in the division, so expect me to fight strong,” Catalan said on Thursday. “I am hungry and I will fight like it so I can reach my goal of being number one again and challenging the champion once more.”
Catalan admitted that his upcoming match against Masunyane will not be an easy one.
The 26-year-old Masunyane is undefeated in mixed martial arts and was brilliant in his promotional debut, scoring a unanimous decision win over Ryuto Sawada that showcased his world-class ability.
“We saw that his wrestling skill is really, really high,” Catalan said. “That’s why we’re on the lookout for his wrestling skills. As soon as we scouted him, we started working on how to defend his wrestling. He’s a young lion and he’s really strong, but with [a long] preparation this time, I know we can bounce back.”
“It’s going to be an explosive fight,” the Ilonggo fighter added. “I know Bokang is really hungry to win this fight, but I am hungry to bounce back as well so I can get another World Title shot.”
Catalan, who will turn 42 later this month, added that he is not close to retirement.
Prior to facing Pacio, the Catalan Fighting System founder racked up six consecutive wins in impressive fashion – the exclamation point being his first-round technical knockout against former divisional king Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito.
“Honestly, I look at myself as a beginner in mixed martial arts,” said Catalan. “I started [MMA] when I was 35, so I started late, but it’s all about discipline and focus – focus on my goal of becoming a World Champion and helping my students reach their dreams.”/PN
