Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres is well aware she is about to have the toughest bout in her young career.
The Filipina is scheduled to battle former ONE World Title challenger Mei "V.V." Yamaguchi at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS, which emanates from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, 7 December.
Torres is best remembered for her spectacular promotional debut against Rika Ishige at ONE: KINGS AND CONQUERORS in August 2017, where she submitted the Thai star via rear-naked choke in the second round.
She continued to impress in her next two contests, scoring a unanimous decision over Nita Dea at ONE: HERO'S DREAM in November 2017 and an astonishing 40-second knockout of Team Lakay's April Osenio at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES this past January.
However, Torres' three-bout win streak came to an end when she met Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES in Jakarta, Indonesia last September.
After falling short at the hands of Lumban Gaol, “The Zamboanginian Fighter” knows she needs to deliver a better performance against Yamaguchi in their three-round atomweight clash.
"I expect my upcoming bout against Mei Yamaguchi to be the hardest test of my career yet. She is a two-time World Title challenger, hits hard, and has masterful wrestling," she said.
"She is so well-rounded that she can basically do everything inside the cage. I acknowledge the danger in having to face such a dangerous foe. I've been training very hard, especially after I suffered my first loss in my last outing.”
Yamaguchi also seeks to return to her winning ways after falling short in her bid to capture the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title from Angela Lee at ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS last May.
Despite not getting the result "V.V." had hoped for, it was a highly-competitive affair that pushed the atomweight queen to her limits. Also, it showcased the Japanese athlete's wide array of skills on her feet and on the ground.
Torres knows she has to be in excellent condition and be sharper than ever for her next bout.
"I need to be in tip-top shape, which I think I am against Yamaguchi," the Filipina said.
"We studied her previous bouts and we are preparing for all possible scenarios inside that cage. She can finish on the feet or on the ground, but I am capable of that, too.”
A win over Yamaguchi would surely bolster her curriculum vitae like no other.
While she is not in a hurry for a shot at the ONE Women's Atomweight World Championship, Torres knows a victory in Kuala Lumpur will move her closer to title contention.
"I can't afford to be careless nor overconfident for this bout. I am giving it my all,” she declared. “I know a win over Yamaguchi would bring me a step closer to a ONE World Title shot in the future.”