Myanmar featherweight contender Phoe “Bushido” Thaw is set for the biggest test of his career at ONE: PURSUIT OF GREATNESS.
The 33-year-old returns to action on home soil at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon as he takes on Malaysian contender Keanu Subba in a pivotal featherweight bout on Friday, 26 October.
Subba will present the sternest test of Phoe Thaw’s credentials in his career so far, but the Burmese star says he’s looking forward to testing his skills against him.
“He has a pretty good ground game, and he has already faced some of the best fighters in mixed martial arts,” he acknowledges.
“He’s also a senior fighter, so this is a very good fight for me. I’m really sure this is going to be a very exciting fight.”
“Bushido” has only competed six times as a mixed martial arts professional, but he has won all of those bouts, with five coming via knockout.
His aim is to score another stoppage finish against Subba.
“I hope [to win by knockout], but I always give respect to my opponents,” the ONE Myanmar Featherweight Tournament 2016 Champion says.
“I don’t want to predict what the result will be, but I always do my best inside the cage, no matter who my opponent is.
“I don’t care about his strengths or weaknesses. I’m going to concentrate on the weaknesses and opportunities in the cage, not before the fight.”
Victory for Phoe Thaw would propel him towards a top contender’s bout, and the Myanmar athlete admits to being excited at the prospect of being able to catapult himself towards the top.
“There are many fighters who are better than me, and they also have some pretty good experience,” he admits.
“They have been involved in mixed martial arts longer than me, but I have a good background, and I’m going to be a title contender.
“After I beat Subba, I want to be a title contender [and challenge] the champion in my weight division.”
Like most ONE Championship athletes, Phoe Thaw has his sights set on championship gold. But he also wants to achieve success so he can help the people of his home nation.
“People just notice [people] who prove themselves,” he explains.
“There is only one way to prove we’re the best – to get a belt. That’s how we prove we’ve been working very hard in training camp.
“[If I have a belt], I have evidence to prove that I’ve trained very hard. It would be some kind of inspiration to the next generation.
“If I have something to hold in my hand – a belt or a trophy or something – it’s very easy to inspire the people. It’s the best example to inspire the next generation.”
World Titles and influencing others may be part of the plan for Phoe Thaw, but for him to achieve any of his goals, he first has to dispatch Subba in Yangon, and he is staying focused on the job in hand.
“As long as I am fighting, I’m focused on winning and defeating every opponent,” he says.
“That is my idea. Those are my feelings when I’m in the cage. Every fight is very important in my life.”
