Some fighters are known for enduring long bouts, while others are renowned for ending contests swiftly. Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado consistently falls into the latter category, a reputation he aims to uphold this Friday evening.
The Filipino veteran is set to kick off ONE Fight Night 41: Sinsamut vs. Jarvis on Prime Video. He will face South Africa’s Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen in a flyweight MMA bout, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime on March 13 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Since his ONE Championship debut in 2017, Miado has established himself as a finisher, with six of his seven victories in the promotion coming via stoppage. The 33-year-old from Albay shows no signs of altering this aggressive strategy.
Van Rooyen brings an impressive resume that warrants serious consideration. The 23-year-old dominated the African scene, achieving an undefeated 7-0 record and securing the EFC Flyweight Championship before making his way to the international platform.
His first fight in the promotion, at ONE Fight Night 37 last November, resulted in a second-round TKO loss to Avazbek Kholmirzaev. This marked the sole defeat on an otherwise flawless record, suggesting he enters Friday’s contest with a strong motivation to bounce back. Miado’s thorough analysis reveals Van Rooyen as a versatile kickboxer, possessing precise striking, effective level changes, and a calm demeanor that seems advanced for his age.
Despite acknowledging his opponent’s skills, Miado’s respect for Van Rooyen’s abilities has its limits. Miado’s extensive experience battling elite fighters within the promotion has forged an unshakeable mental toughness that a mere undefeated streak cannot match. He is confident that the disparity in their striking power will become evident and decide the outcome as soon as they engage.
“In terms of our striking exchanges, I anticipate the key factor will be who possesses greater power,” Miado stated. “I strike significantly harder than he does. I’m confident in my ability to withstand his punches, but we’ll see how he reacts when he feels the impact of mine.”
This bold prediction is not a casual remark. For Miado, every fight concludes with the same mental image before it even starts: his opponent on the canvas and his own hand raised in victory. He expects March 13 to follow this pattern.
“This will be an intense brawl,” he declared. “Fans should anticipate a high-octane battle from beginning to end. This fight will not go the distance. I intend to finish him by TKO in either the first or second round. I highly doubt the judges will be required.”
