Former two-division world champion Martin Nguyen believes he can nonetheless grasp with the assassin’s row of top-tier expertise in ONE Championship’s ultra-stacked featherweight division.

‘The Situ-Asian’ desires to maintain his footing within the 155-pound ranks’ high 5 with an enormous victory at ONE Combat Evening 7: Lineker vs Andrade II.

This coming Friday, February 24, Nguyen will tackle short-notice opponent Leonardo Casotti inside the long-lasting Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The whole card will air reside on US Primetime and without cost to Amazon Prime Video subscribers in the US and Canada.

Martin Nguyen, who has gone 1-2 after dropping the featherweight belt, acknowledged the stiff stage of competitors within the division he as soon as dominated.

The Kill Cliff FC standout instructed ONE Championship in an unique interview:

“For the champion, it does not actually look as busy. However for the contenders, I imply, we’re all preventing for the primary spot. And Thanh Le’s obtained it for the time being, so regardless, I believe, not likely relying on the place we’re, I reckon whoever finishes fights extra devastatingly in the long run. That is what is going on to promote a battle for the title rivalry.”

Given his struggles as of late, Nguyen has plummeted to the fourth spot within the rankings. The person who unseated him, Thanh Le, continues to be the division’s high contender, adopted by Garry Tonon.

The third spot is occupied by Ilya Freymanov, who knocked out the Vietnamese-Australian fighter in his promotional debut.

In the meantime, Nguyen’s unique ONE Combat Evening 7 opponent, Shamil Gasanov, is ranked fifth.

Whereas ‘The Situ-Asian’ will now face an unranked opponent, he hopes to construct momentum for a doable world title shot in opposition to the division’s high canine Tang Kai.

We’ll see if Martin Nguyen has yet one more run in him when he faces Casotti at ONE Combat Evening 7.

Martin Nguyen embraces underdog mentality on his path to reclaiming his world title

Even one of the best fighters on this planet cope with adversity, and Martin Nguyen just isn’t letting his dangerous luck as of late outline his storied profession.

Whereas he might not be the spring hen he as soon as was, the 33-year-old is aware of he’s obtained much more left within the tank.

Regardless of having as soon as conquered two divisions on the identical time, Nguyen nonetheless sees himself as an underdog with so much to show.

Martin Nguyen made this clear throughout ONE Combat Evening 7’s pre-event interview:

“I have been an underdog my complete life. Life has hit me so laborious, so I do not actually care. In the case of the chances and all that in a bout, all I’ve to fret about is me turning up, me having the suitable preparation, me having all the pieces set in place for when that bell goes, and it is me versus him, I will do no matter it takes to win.”