‘I Hit A Lot Harder Than Him’ – Jeremy Miado Seeks Vintage Finish Against Willie Van Rooyen At ONE Fight Night 41
Every time Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado enters the ring, fans know they are in for a show.
The Filipino firecracker opens ONE Fight Night 41: Sinsamut vs. Jarvis on Prime Video in a flyweight MMA clash against Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen. The card goes down live in U.S. primetime on Friday, March 13, from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Since joining ONE in 2017, Miado has built a reputation as one of the strawweight MMA division’s most feared finishers. Six of his seven promotional victories came by stoppage. Now 1-1 since moving to the flyweight ranks, another stiff test awaits.
Van Rooyen did not arrive at the world’s largest martial arts organization without pedigree. The South African bulldozed his way to a 7-0 record and the EFC Flyweight Championship to earn his spot on the global stage, and Miado knows exactly what that resume represents.
The 33-year-old sees the hype and has no intention of dismissing it.
He told onefc.com:
“He’s quite well-rounded and also a kickboxing specialist. From what I’ve seen, his striking is very sharp. I noticed he also mixes things up quite well.
“After striking exchanges when his opponents commit, he changes levels and goes for the takedown. Technique-wise, he’s good and he has a lot of bullets in his chamber. We’re similar that way.”
Van Rooyen enters with redemption on his mind. His promotional debut ended in a second-round TKO defeat to Avazbek “Ninzya” Kholmirzaev at ONE Fight Night 37 last November, the first blemish on an otherwise spotless record. At just 23, he will be more dangerous for it.
Miado is well aware of the age gap between them and welcomes every bit of it. The battles he has endured against the promotion’s finest have built a mental fortitude that no amount of youth can manufacture.
“The Jaguar” explained:
“To be fair, Van Rooyen is quite calm and composed. At his age, he’s already that way, so I give him props for that. But I guess he’s coming in with more pressure to prove himself.
“But my experience is my biggest edge. I feel like I’ve faced some of the best fighters in the promotion, so that gives me a great mental boost.”
Miado sees cracks in Van Rooyen’s ground game and his sharpened grappling is prepared to take advantage. That said, he expects the real damage to be done upright.
Trading shots has always been his domain, and he has never flinched from a firefight.
The boxer-turned-MMA star said:
“When it comes to our striking, I believe it will come down to who has more power. Let’s see if he can handle my power.
“I hit a lot harder than him. I know I can take his shots, but let’s see how he’ll deal once I hit him with mine.”
Miado Eyes Career Resurrection Against Van Rooyen
Jeremy Miado’s ONE Championship journey has had its share of peaks and valleys.
The highlights are unforgettable. Signature stoppages over fellow heavy hitters Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang and “Mini T” Danial Williams cemented his place among the promotion’s most feared finishers.
Fans have come to expect a spectacle every time “The Jaguar” answers the bell, and he has never given them reason to think otherwise.
The Albay native stated:
“I always put myself out there. I always entertain the fans. Because as a fighter, that’s my job. Win or lose, I always give it my absolute best. I’m always looking to finish no matter what, whether it’s a knockout or submission.”
The gatekeeper tag has trailed Miado since his strawweight days, but he refuses to let it follow him to flyweight. He has his sights set on a ONE World Title run in the new division, and Van Rooyen is the perfect opponent to announce that ambition.
A kindred spirit and fellow natural finisher with no appetite for a grinding decision, “White Lion” brings out the best in “The Jaguar.”
A US$50,000 performance bonus would be a welcome reward, but the real goal is a defining statement in one of the promotion’s most stacked divisions.
Miado declared:
“This will be a slugfest. Fans can expect an all-action war from start to finish. I’m thrilled and honored to fight him. Expect a bloody war!
“This won’t go the distance. I’ll finish him in round one or round two via TKO. I doubt the judges will be needed.”
