The MMA scene in Malaysia is booming. The growing crop of great athletes representing the country is even more impressive considering the sport hasn’t been firmly established in the region for that long.
Coming up on 21 April at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, Ev Ting is looking to make history by becoming Malaysia’s first MMA world champion, and that could be something people will look back on as a definitive moment – an announcement that MMA in Malaysia has arrived, and is a force to be reckoned with..
Ting faces Eduard ‘Landslide’ Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship in Folayang’s native Philippines. A win would certainly make the combat sports world realise that Malaysian fighters are no longer just up-and-comers, but skilled, ambitious athletes that can make their presence felt at the highest level.
While the sport of mixed martial arts has grown in Malaysia thanks to ONE Championship and local amateur promotion Malaysian Invasion MMA, the talent pool was small. There were some early pioneers chipping away and gaining some momentum, but the breakthrough into the mainstream is a recent phenomenon.
Ting has a chance to bolster that, should he leave Manila with a gold strap over his shoulder. Attaching that newfound publicity and media attention to a recognized world champion validates the country’s claims to success so much more.
Title challenger Ting’s peers have been quick to support their compatriot, as they know the swell is growing, and when it breaks they will all be beneficiaries.
“This match-up will be epic for Malaysia. I am very sure Ev (Ting)’s win will bring a great awakening in the Malaysian MMA scene,“ said Agilan Thani, of Monarchy MMA.
It was revealed Thani will play his own part in this Malaysian march to the top of the sport, as he has been booked as Ben Askren’s next challenger for the ONE Welterweight World Championship in May. Even more impressive is that Thani is just 21, six years Ting’s junior.
22-year-old Keanu Subba is 4-1 with ONE Championship, and he is looking at the current challengers with a glint in his eye, as he hopes to one day follow in their footsteps.
“People will see that this country produces some of the best fighters in the world,” Subba asserted, with plans to join those ranks himself in the near future.
AJ Lias Mansor was one of the earliest fighters to adopt MMA in Malaysia, in a time when it was still a fairly unknown sport. He has seen the tide change, and it makes him proud to have seen the evolution over the years.
“Ting winning the title belt will be proof that Malaysians have come a long way and are truly global competitors,” Mansor offered.
With the likes of Ann Osman, Muhammad Aiman, and more coming through and showcasing their potential in ONE Championship, it looks certain more Malaysians in title contention in the coming years.
