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Eko Roni Saputra looks for redemption
Glory on the line: Indonesian mixed martial arts fighter Eko Roni Saputra (right) delivers a strike to his opponent
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lory on the line: Indonesian mixed martial arts fighter Eko Roni Saputra (right) delivers a strike to his opponent.(Courtesy of ONE Championship)
Indonesian wrestling champion-turned-mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Eko Roni Saputra has had to learn about persistence the hard way. Eko recalled that in his professional MMA debut, with glory on the line, he was beaten in a first-round TKO stoppage at the hands of Singaporean Niko Soe.
And while a devastating loss like this could easily discourage others, for Eko, the result was a learning experience.
“I felt like it was a normal thing, as it was my first time competing in MMA, and I had only done six months of training,” Eko said. “I was basically coming from scratch, I was coming from zero in MMA, but definitely, I learned a lot from that loss.
“I was really nervous, because it was my first MMA fight, and I still didn’t know how best to fight,” he continued.
On Oct. 25, Eko has the opportunity to bounce back and record his first career MMA win when he faces Filipino Kaji Ebin at ONE: Dawn of Valor at Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
This time around, Eko said he knew what he needed to do to win.
“I need to be more focused, more concentrated and also more relaxed in my next fight.”
It also helps that the wrestling wizard has been training alongside some of the best martial artists in the world over at Evolve MMA in Singapore.
Being around world champions, Eko said, was nothing short of a blessing.
“I train with the guys over at Evolve every day, and I’m really grateful that I get to train with some of the best and most experienced trainers in the world. I’ve even become friends with some of their world champions,” said Eko.
“All of my friends and trainers and teammates at Evolve always help motivate me, and all I can say to them is ‘thank you’. Because of them, I’ve made significant improvement.”
Eko will have added motivation time around, given he will be competing in front of his friends and family in his home country of Indonesia.
“Being able to fight in my home country and compete on home soil is a good opportunity for me because I feel that it motivates me to do my best when I get out there,” Eko explained.
“All of my friends and my family in Jakarta can’t wait, they’re very excited to see me fight live.”
