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Priscilla eyes ONE grand prix for spot against reigning champ Lee
Indonesia's top female MMA fighter is gearing up and keeping her eye on the ball: a chance to take part in the ONE Atomweight Grand Prix and to challenge the "Unstoppable" reigning champ.
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Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol (JP/Courtesy of ONE Championship)
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riscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, Indonesia’s top female mixed martial artist, won’t be taking it too easy once the holiday season rolls around come December: The 32-year-old ONE Championship veteran is hoping to land a spot in the prestigious ONE Atomweight Grand Prix announced over a month ago, so she is training hard, upgrading her skills where necessary.
Although details about the high-profile tournament are yet to be confirmed, including the names of participating athletes, Priscilla says she’ll be ready if she gets the call to compete in the Grand Prix.
“I will gladly accept the offer. It will be my honor to compete in the Atomweight Grand Prix alongside some of the best martial artists in the world. It will be a good experience for me, and I will definitely do my best,” Priscilla said in a press statement received byThe Jakarta Post on Friday.
“For that, I have to try to prepare well, train more intensely, continue to work on my weaknesses and sharpen my technique. I have a lot to work on, especially my ground skills,” she said in the statement
The winner of the Atomweight Grand Prix is to be the next in line to challenge the reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, Angela Lee of Singapore. The “Unstoppable” Lee is expecting her first child with husband Bruno Pucci in mid-2021.
The top-ranked female atomweight fighters are all expected to take part in the eight-woman tournament, including the Philippines’ Denice Zamboanga, China’s Meng Bo, Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi and Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex.
Priscilla is among the athletes outside of the top five who are highly favored to participate in the tournament, as are Gina Iniong, Ritu Phogat and Jomary Torres.
Phogat and Torres will lock horns on Dec. 4 at ONE: BIG BANG, broadcasting live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Priscilla believes a lot is riding on this matchup, with both athletes looking to solidify their positions in the bracketing.
“This match will be interesting, considering that both of them have good ground skills,” she said.
