Filipino-Indonesian Aziz “The Krauser” Calim will return to the ONE Championship Circle looking to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself.
Calim steps up to take on Roshan Mainam at the previously recorded ONE: FISTS OF FURY III, which airs this Friday, March 19, from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Mainam was supposed to face Calim’s Han Fighting Academy teammate Abro “The Black Komodo” Fernandes, but Fernandes had to withdraw from the match due to visa issues.
With Fernandes out and Mainam left without an opponent, it was an opportunity that Calim couldn’t pass on.
“I am nervous, but I feel that I’ve prepared everything within this short amount of time,” Calim said.
That confidence stems from the fact that he’s been one of Fernandes’ main training partners leading up to the bout, making him privy to Mainam’s expected game plan. It also helps that he has always stayed in shape, even without scheduled matches.
“[As far as] the game plan, we haven’t fully completed it because I am the replacement fighter, and this is on short notice. However, I will go heavy on the striking like I always do,” Calim said.
“Previously, I also helped Abro in his preparation ahead of this Roshan bout, so I will use what I have learned from his drills in my fight.”
“The Krauser” admits that he will have to work double time to deal with Mainam’s wrestling and grappling skills, though he is betting on his striking and conditioning against the Evolve MMA rising star.
“I will definitely use my striking prowess and will try to stall time and lure him into exhaustion. [Mainam] has a big but short posture, whereas those kinds of people are often easily exhausted,” he said.
“My plan is to maintain the distance with my striking up to round two, where he will be a bit more tired to fight.
“At best, I want to use my boxing for a KO, because I have been drilling a lot in the striking area and prepared myself with my boxing skills.”
Catch the previously recorded ONE: FISTS OF FURY III this Friday, March 19, on One Sports and One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT). It will also simultaneously air on the ONE Super App.
Also, TV5 will air an encore presentation of the event at 12 a.m. PHT on Sunday, March 21.