BITTERSWEET will be the feeling for Drex Zamboanga when he makes his debut on Friday.
The 31-year-old flyweight gets his first fight under the promotion at One: A New Breed in Bangkok, but there will be no fans to witness his new chapter as the event will be held behind closed doors.
But it hardly deters Zamboanga, motivated to make his mark against Thai foe Detchadin Sorsirisuphathin.
"First time ko rin lalaro sa ganitong big stage na walang tao. Siguro iisipin ko na lang na merong nanonood sa akin, yung family ko. Isipin ko na lang, imagine ko na lang na yung mama ko, yung papa ko nanonood sa gilid para at least man lang mainspire yung utak ko at ganahan ako sa laban," he said.
"At the same time, isipin ko na lang siguro na parang itong laban na ito, world naman ang makakapanood. So gagawin ko na lang yung best ko, na kahit walang tao, basta ipapakita ko yunh skills, yung the best, kung ano yung naging produkto ng training, then ok na yun."
Zamboanga last fought in April 2019 when he stopped Seung Hyun Cho in URCC: Raw Fury.
But that lull only motivated him to improve his craft, and on Friday, an opportunity to hike his 8-5 record in this fresh start on a new promotion.
"Talagang sobrang nakakaexcite itong darating na laban kasi although matagal na ako sa larangan ng mixed martial arts, yung feeling ko siguro na makatuntong pa sa one of the biggest stages sa Asia ng mixed martial arts, ibang level yun," said the former URCC Bantamweight Champion.
Expectations are mounting, but there's no bigger motivation for Zamboanga than to proudly represent the country inside the cage against grizzled fighters.
"Syempre, maraming taong mag-eexpect kasi as a champion sa URCC, they will expect na irepresent ko yung pagiging Philippine champion," he said.
"Hindi ko iniisip na mahirap sa flyweight kasi nandon yung magagaling at stacked yung flyweight division. Ang iniisip ko po is the more challenging yung division sa akin, the more na mas ma-challenge ako na mag-training at i-pursue ko pa yung sarili ko to learn more."
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