Xie Bin may have gone to the judges in all of his previous fights, but now the Chinese bantamweight prospect vows to finish his next opponent.
The 19-year-old known as “The Stalker” plans to soundly defeat Cambodia’s Chan Rothana in impressive fashion at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which broadcasts live from the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, on Friday Night, 21 April.
“I have made all-round improvements, especially focusing on strength and conditioning. All my fights have gone the distance, and I intend to change that with my next fight,” Xie explains. “A second-round TKO is how I envision the fight will end.”
Xie, who trains alongside Ma Jia Wen, Li Kai Wen, and Jenny Huang at Tianjin Top Team in Northern China, holds an even professional record of 2-2. Though he primarily counts Brazilian jiu-jitsu as his strength, he comes from a fantastic wrestling background, and is constantly evolving his striking prowess.
“The Stalker” displayed those skills in his most recent bout at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION last December, where he bested Mario Satya Wirawan to earn a unanimous decision victory.
“Me and my coaches decided that I would mix it up between the stand-up and dragging [Wirawan] to the ground, and I followed the game plan,” the Chinese bantamweight recalls.
“I had numerous chances of submitting him, yet I failed to do so, which led me to realize that I really needed to improve my BJJ techniques. I was confident in myself that I would leave with a win, but very disappointed that I was not able to finish my opponent.”
Xie is determined to finish Rothana this time around, but the Cambodian is a durable martial artist who has never been finished in his mixed martial arts career.
Spending his fight camp at Tiger Muay Thai & MMA in Phuket, Thailand, Rothana is a kun khmer and Yutakhun Khom specialist who owns a 4-2 record, with three of those wins coming by way of TKO and another one coming by rear-naked choke.
The last time the Cambodian hero appeared inside the cage was last August, where he fell to Ma Hao Bin via unanimous decision. Like his Chinese opponent, Rothana wants to make a definitive statement at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY.
Unfortunately for him, Xie and the many strategists at Tianjin Top Team have been studying the 31-year-old Phnom Penh resident intently.
“My coaches and I have watched his fights extensively. They feel that I need to disrupt his tempo by mixing up my attack,” the teenage martial artist offers. “Rothana will bring the fight. He tends to start off fast, but fades if his opponent is able to dictate where and when the engagement happens. I will bring on the grind. I do not care what if he has anything to prove.”
Rightfully so. “The Stalker” is concerned with himself and solely himself. In fact, he plans to use this fight as a springboard to higher-ranked opponents
“Working toward the belt is my goal — not just having the belt, but also to be a good representative of a champion,” he states. “Right now, my focus is entirely on how to get better as a fighter. I’d rather not think about anything else that might distract me.”
Xie is focused on a mission, and that mission is to get the finish come 21 April.
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