“I’d Be Better Everywhere” – Keanu Subba Aims to Finish Demetrious Johnson’s Protege James Yang at ONE: Eersel vs. Sadikovic

Published 04/13/2022, 2:50 AM EDT

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Keanu Subba is geared up to pick up another highlight-reel finish inside the Circle at ONE: Eersel vs. Sadikovic. The Malaysian phenom takes on Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson’s teammate James Yang inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, 22 April.

The 27-year-old is confident of securing his eighth professional win to pull closer to the top five men in the featherweight division. He believes Yang is not on a similar level, and he plans to let it show next week.

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“I believe I’ll have an advantage in the grappling department and also in the striking section. Obviously, experience will be the number one advantage that I have, and I think I’d do better at mixing it up than him. In short, I’d be better everywhere,” the Kuala Lumpur-based star offered.

“I can finish him on the feet or the ground. If it goes to the ground, I’m even more confident of that finish.”

Subba’s resume is a testament to what he is capable of on the global stage when things go his way. The Blueprint Martial Arts and SOMA Fight Club Bali representative boasts a perfect finishing rate – with all of them coming inside the opening frame.

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In his most recent triumph, Subba took out Phoe Thaw via guillotine choke in just 167 seconds. The Malaysian athlete had to fend off a couple of attacks in the stand-up department against the Myanmar fighter, but as soon as he took the contest to the ground, there was no doubt that he was going to close out the match in the shortest time possible.

Keanu Subba is not worried about James Yang’s training with Demetrious Johnson

He envisions the same thing happening on 22 April. Though Yang has been training with Demetrious Johnson and other top names in the sport at AMC Pankration in Washington, Subba notes that it will be only him and Yang when the action gets underway inside the Circle.

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“He’s training with the best in the world, man. Those guys are the best of the best. They know everything about the game. But at the end of the day, I’m fighting James Yang, not Demetrious Johnson.”

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However, if things do not go according to plan, the featherweight star admits that he will be happy to take home a decision win.

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“If I don’t get the finish, I just got to do my best. My job is to go out there and perform to my best abilities.”

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Written by:

Deepak Kumar

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Deepak Kumar is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. His love for MMA comes from the chaos and violence the fight game brings to the table. A BJJ aspirant, Deepak began following the sport as a casual fan when Ronda Rousey was finishing her opponents in seconds.
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Edited by:

Reubyn Coutinho