APRIL Osenio is unlike your usual Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
A Philippine national Wushu champion, a Team Lakay standout and a ONE Championship atomweight contender, Osenio has broken the mold for fighters and has earned a college degree to ensure her future.
Osenio graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Criminal Justice Education at the University of Cordilleras In Baguio City last September 1. Osenio said she was eager to disprove the stereotype that prizefighters do not put a premium on education.
“Pursuing your passion in martial arts is not a hindrance in securing your future through education. It is also a way of breaking the stigma that fighters have in our society. It’s an achievement that I was able to set an example for others to follow,” she said.
Osenio is only too aware that professional athletes have a very short shelf life and having a college degree will open avenues for her in the future.
“Education is very important because my career as a fighter will not last for a long time. By the time I reach 38 or 40 years old, I need to retire and have another job to support my family,” she said.
She’s not done with her studies yet. Osenio is reviewing for the Criminologist Licensure Examination to be held June 2018.
This is a comparable civil service examination which makes her eligible for government positions such a correctional officer, probation officer, agents in any law enforcement agency, security officer, criminal investigator, ballistician and the like.
Most importantly, certified criminologists who pass the licensing examination shall be eligible for appointment as Partrolman in chartered cities and municipalities.
She takes a quick break from her books to put on four-ounce combat gloves to fight in Thailand at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand against “The Panda” Xiong Jingnan of China on the undercard of ONE: Warriors of the World.
Osenio, who has not competed since her submission loss to Jenny “Lady GoGo” Huang last year December 2016, knows of the tough challenge that lies ahead of her.
Xiong is an upcoming female strawweight contender in ONE Championship and is known as one of the top three leading female martial arts talents in China.
With a penchant for scoring highlight-reel finishes and executing powerful slams, Xiong holds an impressive professional record of 9-1.
Despite the big challenge in front of her, Osenio promises to give fans her best effort and turn her three-round match with Xiong into a stand-up war.
“It has been a while since fans last saw me in the cage. I would say I have not changed a lot, I have just been working on improving my skills,” Osenio explained
“My style is still the same. I focus on my Wushu and really want to test my opponent’s striking abilities. I am excited to show everyone how much better I am this time around,” she said.
She steps back into the cage at ONE: Warriors of the World eager to make a strong statement.
“I have been really working on sharpening my skills and fixing a lot of my weaknesses. This next bout is so important because my opponent is one of China’s best martial artists, and a win will really speak volumes of where I am at as a professional. This is one of the toughest training camps I have ever had so far, and I am ready to showcase the results in Bangkok,” she said.
Osenio’s fight against Jingnan was ongoing as we went to press. A victory enhances her status as a professional fighter but a loss will not be a devastating blow to her career because she has taken the time to complete her education to later become a full-fledged law enforcement officer.