Geje Eustaquio is a veteran of 17 ONE Championship fights but he has never scored back to back stoppage wins. That is a statement he hopes to address this week.
Eustaquio faces Min Jong Song at ONE: ‘Inside the Matrix’ Part III in a fight that will be being broadcast on delay this Friday. He hopes to finish the Korean inside the distance,
“This is mixed martial arts and anything can happen. But like in my last match I am aiming for a finish once more.”
At ONE: ‘Masters of Fate’ last year Eustaquio finished Toni Tauru with a spinning back kick. His previous five victories had come by way of decision so it was something of a surprise to see the former flyweight champion showing a ruthless streak.
Expect the unexpected
It is a trick that Eustaquio would love to repeat when he faces the former Road FC flyweight champion in a catchweight contest,
“Expect the unexpected. I will be looking for the finish, whether it be standing up or on the ground,” he said.
Song made his ONE Championship debut in 2012, dropping a decision to Masakatsu Ueda. It would be seven years before he was handed another opportunity by the promotion.
The Korean registered wins at OWS 5 and OWS 8 last year. He has been a professional since 2010 but he hasn’t competed as regularly during his career as Eustaquio.
The Filipino believes that this experience will give him the edge,
“I believe I am more experienced. I think that will be my edge in this fight. The level of competition that I have faced is different, and a whole lot harder compared to him,” he said.
Troubled times
It will be his first fight since lockdown but Eustaquio says he has stayed in shape throughout the year,
“Even though we had to adjust with our preparation for this match because of the restrictions, we still pushed through and worked hand-in-hand to make the most of the cards that were dealt to us. We kept on training because we cannot let up especially in these times.”
His teammate Eduard Folayang was in action last week while both Kevin Belingon and Lito Adiwang are on Friday’s card. Eustaquio says that him and his training partners are always in peak condition when it comes to fight night,
“We don’t come in fights unprepared. We go in there and give it our all. We persevere. We give our blood and sweat just to make sure we come in prepared regardless of who’s in front of us. That’s our culture and attitude in Team Lakay.”
Title mix
As a former champion Eustaquio knows he is a name that other flyweights would love to have on their resume. The 31 year old wants to be a title contender, not a stepping stone, and knows that a win on Friday will be essential if he wants to stay in the mix at flyweight,
“With a chance to move up the ladder, I expect him to come in hungry, motivated, and eager to win. That’s why I have to be very careful.”
