There are only two ways out of the ONE Championship cage on fight night — one in victory and one in defeat. For Malaysian featherweight sensation Ev “E.T.” Ting (9-2), losing is not an option when he takes on feared Russian, the undefeated Marat “Cobra” Gafurov (10-0), at ONE: Warrior’s Quest which goes down in Singapore on Friday, May 22.
“Silly question, prepared would be an understatement,” said Ting, when asked if he is ready for his showdown with Gafurov. “I’ve been training too long and too hard to not be prepared.”
Ting’s task isn’t complicated by any stretch of the imagination. He’ll climb up the steps, showcase his signature brand of beatdown and raise hell inside the cage. There’s simply no other strategy that will be viable against a stud like Gafurov.
“He [Gafurov] is a world-class opponent, and like all fights, it is never easy,” said Ting. Gafurov at 10 wins is indeed a very tough matchup for anybody in the division, bar none. The Russian has a knack for grappling, with six submission victories to his name, as well as three stoppages and a decision win to round off his record.
Despite his opponent’s impressive credentials, Ting remains defiant. “[Gafurov] is undefeated for a reason — but he will not be prepared for what I have in store for him.”
Ting owns a win over the popular Will “The Kill” Chope — who he defeated by knockout — and exhilarating finishes over Filipinos Edward Kelly and Cary Bullos. Ting was also victorious in his ONE Championship debut last year, a 1st-round TKO over Yohan Mulia Legowo.
“My style matches up terribly against anybody,” said Ting before issuing a challenge to his next foe. “If [Gafurov] wants a boring fight he can grind me out with his grappling body lock… but if he wants to entertain, I will be in the center of that cage ready to bang.”
However, simply pursuing war inside the cage is but seemingly pointless in the grand scheme of things. Like all fighters, Ting draws strength from those close to him.
“I fight for my team, my family, my friends, for myself and for my legacy here on Earth,” said Ting. At an early age, Ting was already heavily invested in combat sports, and once he finished school, he looked to combat sports to drive his competitive nature.
Born in Malaysia but raised in New Zealand, Ting was always driven by his ambition to be the best in whatever he did. When a nearby gym opened up near his home in Auckland, Ting met Hamish Robertson, the mastermind behind Auckland MMA. It was then that fighting — under the tutelage of Hamish Robertson — became Ting’s profession of choice.
“[Robertson] crafts me into a better fighter everyday,” said Ting. “Training is always filled with great people, atmosphere and of course fun. Otherwise, I would not train.”
When fighters step into the cage, they put their lives on the line. Training makes up a great deal of a fight, and it’s these behind-the-scenes stories that determine whether or not a fighter is ready to go to war.
There is an uncanny beauty in combat sports that is found only in the solitude of the battleground, as two fighters stand across each other before the sound of the bell.
For Ev Ting, fighting is life, no matter how difficult it can be sometimes. “I wouldn’t say [training] is easy,” said Ting. “But it is easier for me than a 9-5 job.”
“There are a lot of reasons why I stay disciplined, but the most important would be trusting in my work and staying hungry for the ultimate prize.”
For now, the ultimate prize is within arm’s reach. The only obstacle standing in his way is a hissing cobra by the name of Marat Gafurov — but it’s one obstacle Ting is ready to barrel through.
A victory could line him up for a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship.
