Hong Kong’s Yu Yau Pui took a road less taken by training in Muay Thai, and she has learned to tune out the negativity in order to rise through the ranks.

At ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Friday, August 2, Yu will make her return to action against Scottish star Amie Pirnie in an atomweight Muay Thai bout inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Yu’s aggressive style draws criticism

Unlike Thailand, Yu’s home country of Hong Kong does not have a rich tradition of Muay Thai. As such, the 31-year-old doesn’t have the grace and finesse that Thai fighters who grew up in the sport have when fighting.

Instead, she displays an ultra-aggressive and rough style that has helped her find success in ONE but also earned her criticism from purists of the sport. In an interview with ONE, the KF 1 athlete bard that she is certainly aware of all the negative comments but chooses to move forward instead of dwell on it.

“People had a lot of comments, even now. Some people don’t like my style. They say, ‘Oh she’s like a street fighter. She just ruins Muay Thai.’ And then I faced a lot of disagreements and negative comments. But I just keep moving and keep training in my gym,” she said.

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Yau Pui’s message for the younger generation

Her dedication to improve her craft is evident in her incredible display in the ONE Friday Fights series, where she won five straight – including three by TKO. This run helped her earn a six-figure contract to compete in the promotion’s U.S. primetime shows.

In her first appearance at ONE Fight Night 20 this past March, Yu outlasted former World Title challenger Lara Fernandez to extend her win streak to six. As she heads to her next challenge, she offered some words of inspiration for those who want to also tread an unconventional path like her.

“I just want to say don’t be afraid to be yourself. That’s all that matters,” she said. “No matter what your style is, no matter how you perform, just be comfortable to be yourself because even though there are many comments, people like you, or people don’t like you, what makes you happy is yourself.”