Two flyweights need victories desperately. Hu Yong carries a two-fight skid while Danny Kingad suffered three painful setbacks in four outings.
Hu faces Kingad in a flyweight MMA bout at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 29-year-old Fighting Bros Club representative sits at 8-3 in ONE Championship. He experienced both highs and lows competing against elite competition in the world’s largest martial arts organization. Recent struggles tested his resolve. Back-to-back losses to Reece McLaren and Sanzhar Zakirov pushed him away from title contention.
But the Beijing-based knockout artist sees golden opportunity. Kingad navigates his own difficult stretch. The 30-year-old Filipino veteran brings experience but carries momentum heading the wrong direction. Both men enter desperate for victory. One that could reignite ONE World Title aspirations for either fighter.
Hu’s confidence comes from his greatest asset. Years of Sanda training developed striking power and technical proficiency that makes him dangerous every second. His background provides stopping ability opponents can’t ignore. The 29-year-old believes his stand-up game gives him distinct advantages against Kingad and anyone else.
“For comeback fight, I am very excited,” he said. “I need to secure this win to prove that I still have what it takes to compete for the championship. My opponent will definitely give it his all, and it will be an exciting showdown. I am ready for it.”
Hu Yong sees path to accomplishing what nobody else has
Danny Kingad has been active in ONE since his promotional debut in 2016. The Filipino won nine of his first 10 fights while establishing himself among flyweight elite. He faced legends. Adriano Moraes. Yuya Wakamatsu. Demetrious Johnson. That experience teaches lessons you can’t get elsewhere.
Hu Yong acknowledges his opponent’s veteran savvy and diverse skill set. But the Chinese striker identified what he perceives as a critical weakness. The Lions Nation MMA representative lacks a signature finishing move. That missing element creates openings for someone carrying legitimate knockout power.
“I believe my strengths lie in my stand-up striking and my never-give-up spirit,” he said. “I think standing strikes are my signature strength. If I were to fight standing up, I’m confident that I could knock out everyone.”
Kingad has proven difficult to finish. Nobody knocked him out despite facing the division’s hardest hitters. That durability allowed him to compete at the highest level for nearly a decade. The Filipino survived everything thrown at him across 18 promotional appearances.
Hu believes he possesses the power and precision necessary to accomplish what no man has done. His prediction sees the fight going three rounds with him emerging victorious. Kingad will likely engage in grappling exchanges. That creates opportunities to look for the knockout in standup exchanges. The challenge excites him.
“My prediction is that the fight will go the full three rounds, with me emerging victorious,” he said. “Since my opponent will likely engage in grappling exchanges, my opportunity will be to look for a KO in stand-up exchanges. He has never been knocked out before, and I want to accomplish that challenge.”
