It goes without saying that for everything in life, a strong foundation is a requirement for something to be successful. As we move into the Quarter Finals, fighters will rely more on the foundations of their mixed martial arts. A strong base shall help them stand tall and fight hard. 56 fighters have managed to fight their way through the Ladder Match to reach the MIMMA2 Quarter Finals.
It cannot be denied that this bunch of young fighters put their heart and soul into their fights once they stepped into the cage. They showed up to fight and fight they did. Experiencing multiple blows, cuts and bruises would not deter them from keeping their dreams of becoming the next MIMMA (Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts) Champion alive. The Ladder Match has managed to unearth an impressive bunch of fighters who will make the current champions run for their money.
Among the ones to look out for are Wong Han Chen who hails from a Muay Thai background and Sunny “The Silent Killer” Sabornido, who is actually deaf and mute but he lets his skills do all the talking. Not forgetting the Kalai brothers, Effendy and Eddie who are already well known in the martial arts arena. The quality of the fighters during the Ladder Match shocked even the most experienced mixed martial artist who came to watch. This proves that the fighters from the current season are far more superior than the previous season. The Ladder Match has also spoilt shopping plans of the visitors that came to Paradigm Mall as everyone was so engulfed with the action. From uncles to little girls, everyone stood by to cheer for the fighters.
After almost a month to recover and to get back to their training regime, it is time for all the fighters to get back in the cage to defend their dreams. If the Ladder Match was ruthless, wait till everyone witness the level of intensity of the fights during the quarterfinals! As the number of fighters gets smaller, the action gets bigger. Other than their hopes, fighters will also be carrying their state pride on their shoulders and this will not be easy. Fighters will not only depend on their fighting skills, but now, they have to be strong emotionally. The level of stress that these fighters have to bear is immense. Those who have the ability of self-control in the cage will prevail. It is no longer just about who throws the strongest punch or does the biggest takedown; it is going to be about who can fight intelligently in the cage and who has the strongest foundation.
Jason Lo stated, “Expect fighters to be more vigilant in their fights. They are going to be calculative in making their moves. The risk is bigger this time around and they would want to go into the fight unequipped with any strategies. These 56 fighters will push the boundaries of amateur mixed martial arts.”
He added, “I am pretty sure that the fighters will be under a lot of stress. This is actually when his team plays a vital part in making sure he is on the right track. One silly mistake could crush his dreams. If you think the fight during the Ladder Match was epic, wait till you experience the MIMMA2 Quarterfinals. Those with good self-control should have the upper hand.”
Will the stress level break them or drive them to glory? Just as they need a conditioned body to fight, fighters also need a strong mind to survive the Quarter Finals. It all boils down to whom can actually battle his worst enemy, which is living in between his own two ears. There is something about MMA that makes people want to stop and stare. The visitors of Paradigm Mall shall once again be entranced by the massive fights happening in the MIMMA2 Cage and they shall stood by the railings of the balconies and gawked for hours cheering for fighters that they might be seeing for the first time.
MIMMA2 has now managed to build the scaffoldings for the MMA scene in Malaysia and the dream of becoming the MMA hub in Asia is starting to take shape. On June 30th, Team Malaysia which consists of the MIMMA Champions, will represent the country at The inaugural IMMAF World Championships in Amateur MMA, set to take place in Las Vegas. Fighters from around the world will be there and Team Malaysia is ready to dominate them all!
