Filipino star Jomary Torres probably had looking to get back to her winning ways the next time she steps inside the ONE Championship Circle.
Now back in action in about a week, the 24-year-old wants to break out of her recent slump in a spectacular way by taking out a highly-regarded prospect on the rise.
Torres is set to lock horns with streaking Indian wrestling champion Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat at ONE: BIG BANG on Friday, 4 December. Phogat is currently unbeaten inside the Circle and is steadily improving.
Torres wants to derail that train and spark her own momentum. While she has nothing but kind words for Phogat, Torres aims to score an emphatic scene-stealing knockout to get back to her winning ways.
“I watched her last fight, and her wrestling was really on full display. She also boxed very well. That improvement I’m sure comes from her training at Evolve. There she has everything she needs. I won’t be surprised if she becomes a world champion one day,” said Torres. “I want to win this fight for my family, to make them proud, and to help them. I want to knock her out.”
Torres surprised fans when she won her first four bouts with ONE Championship, defeating Thai superstar Rika Ishige in spectacular fashion with a rear-naked choke and Team Lakay upstart April Osenio with a slam.
Both fights displayed Torres at her best. The Ishige fight had her displaying excellent use of her legs, including a double leg kick while on the ground that send Ishige on all fours.
After punishing “Tinydoll” and brought her to the canvass 3:28 a number of times, Torres then rained combinations to force her to give up her back which Torres converted to a rear-naked choke that forced Ishige to tap.
In the Osenio fight, Torres reset the record for the fastest knockout and finish across ONE’s women’s division by finishing the bout in just 40 seconds.
Osenio had Torres in a guillotine choke, then subsequently caught her left arm for an armbar submission while they were on the mat but Torres clasped hands as the armbar was executed and hoisted Osenio to the air then send her back to earth with a dizzying force to score the instant knockout.
She, however, slipped in fifth bout against Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol in 2018 by a unanimous decision and has been on a losing streak since.
Loses to Mei Yamaguchi by unanimous decision, Heqin Lin by submission by triangle choke, Hayatun Jihin Radzuan also by triangle choke, and a no contest on an accidental low blow against Jenny Huang in a bout whe was perveived to be ahead in the judges’ scorecards followed in succession.
She is now in deep training in an effort to reverse her fortunes.
Against Phogat, Torres faces a three-time Indian national wrestling champion and 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Champion. Phogat’s family enjoys celebrity status in India, after having the 2016 blockbuster movie, Dangal, made based on her father’s wrestling career training his daughters. Dangal is one of the highest grossing films in Indian history.
The 1st South East Asia Sambo Championship bronze medalist is currently training with head coach and former ONE World Title contender Rene Catalan at their gym in Manila to prepare for the specific challenges Torres will face against Phogat, who is a talented grappler.
“She’s a very good wrestler, so of course, I have to watch out for her takedowns. She also has much improved striking,” said Torres. “I’ve been working on my wrestling with coach Rene. I know I’m the underdog here and people think I have very little chance in beating her. But I think I will surprise a lot of people. I’m determined to win because I’m fighting for my family. Fans should expect a good, exciting fight.”
By Armando M. Bolislis
