ROY “The Dominator” Doliguez has been a top contender in the ring or inside the cage, but he still feels that he has something more to prove as he attempts to spark his professional martial arts career under the ONE Championship banner.
Doliguez, a former ONE Strawweight World Championship title challenger, is scheduled to face Yago Bryan of Brazil on the undercard of ONE: Total Victory, which takes place at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday, September 16.
The 35-year-old native of Sarangani Province was once considered as one of the brightest strawweight competitors in the Asian region, but his billing lost its luster due to a string of setbacks.
When Doliguez made his ONE Championship debut against Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke for the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship belt in May 2015, he lost a fifth-round technical decision to the highly-touted Thai.
Doliguez tried to bounce back from his loss to Amnuaysirichoke by squaring off with Riku Shibuya in January 2016, but he dropped a three-round unanimous decision to the Japanese stalwart.
A victory inside the ONE Championship remained elusive to Doliguez as he bowed to Alex “Little Rock” Silva by third-round submission last February.
Doliguez has the chance to arrest his three-bout losing skid as he squares off with a fellow former title contender in Bryan at ONE: Total Victory.
“Getting into ONE Championship was a dream come true. So many good and talented martial artists are part of this organization’s roster. Like any other competitor’s dream, I also wanted to be in a good and big promotion to showcase my talent,” he said.
“It is very much important to me to win in this coming bout against Yago Bryan. I want to show to those who believe in me that I can make it not just for myself, but for all.”
Doliguez is looking to showcase his striking in this upcoming matchup, and is enhancing those skills at the famed Wildcard Gym owned by Manny Pacquiao in Sarangani.
While he is focused on his stand-up skills, Doliguez is also prepared to earn a victory on the ground.
“The Dominator” plans to continue sharpening his takedown defense and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with his crew from Elorde MMA in Manila for final preparations.
Doliguez is determined to come away with the breakthrough win.
“I am aiming for a knockout,” he said, knowing full well that he needs nothing short of a total victory in order to bounce back from his series of losses.
Another defeat could see Doliguez lost in a sea of aspiring contenders and rising prospects, which is something that could jeopardize his hopes of contending for the ONE Strawweight World Championship yet again.
Although a tough task is in front of him, Doliguez is more fired up than ever to deliver a winning performance.
“People ask me why I am still competing, and I tell them that I just like to do it. I will go on as long as I can because I love martial arts. I love competing. I love training. This is my life,” he said.
“Yago Bryan is a human like me, and everyone is beatable. I always put that in my mind.”