Lito Adiwang

Training out of Team Lakay in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines, Igorot mixed martial artist Lito “The Thunder Kid” Adiwang, 27, is the number contender in ONE Championship’s strawwweight division in MMA. He is a huge fan of the Singapore-based martial arts promotion’s striking-only league ONE Super Series and is open to competing there, as well.

“The thought has crossed my mind,” Adiwang said of the possibility of competing in ONE Super Series. “That’s definitely something that I plan for the future. I love fighting and striking and I can see myself being successful if I make that transition.”

“Of course, there’s a perfect time for everything and if that time comes, I would love to compete in ONE Super Series,” the Team Lakay representative continued. “Right now though, I need to focus on my MMA career and prove myself in my division. I want to become an MMA world champion.”

If Adiwang competes in ONE Super Series and remains in the strawweight division, his biggest opponent will be Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, 36, of Thailand. The Thai fighter is the reigning champion in the league’s strawweight divisions in both kickboxing and strawweight.

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Chatri Sityodtong, Daren Roland (©ONE Championship)

“ONE Super Series is the premier striking league in the world,” Adiwang pointed out. “The fact that ONE is signing the best of the best, legends of the striking martial arts, fans can see champion versus champion fights here but even though ONE Super Series has a lot of champions and legends, they also give equal opportunity and chances to contenders who are fighting for their dreams and trying to climb to the top.”

A ONE Warrior Series alum, Adiwang holds a professional MMA record of 11 wins and 2 losses. On October 12, 2019, the Igorot MMA fighter made his ONE Championship debut at “ONE: Century 世紀” in Tokyo, Japan where he knocked out Senzo Ikeda, 37, of Japan.

Before the new coronavirus (COVID-19) restricted MMA events around the world, Adiwang earned his second ONE Championship win. He submitted Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit, 24, of Thailand at “ONE: Fire and Fury” at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines on January 31, 2020.