Danny Kingad believes his mixed martial arts career isn’t beyond redemption.
At ONE 169 over the weekend, “The King” suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Adriano Moraes in their flyweight MMA rematch.
The 29-year-old from Sadanga, Mountain Province was holding his own throughout much of the bout, impressively matching Moraes in the grappling exchanges and landing significant damage on the mat.
He also seized a brief opportunity to attack Moraes in the stand-up, delivering sharp boxing combinations.
However, a costly mistake during a takedown attempt along the ring ropes allowed Moraes to fasten a deep guillotine choke, forcing the tap in the second round.
Kingad is understandably disappointed, knowing that a win over Moraes — the No. 1-ranked contender and former divisional titleholder — could have propelled him toward a shot at the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.
“At first, I was frustrated. That’s how I felt. I knew I was ahead in the fight, but I made a mistake, and that’s where we got caught. Still, in a way, it’s a lesson,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
The loss severely hurts Kingad’s stock, especially with the upcoming clash between No. 2-rated Yuya Wakamatsu and American newcomer Gilbert Nakatani at ONE Fight Night 26 on December 7.
The winner of that matchup will likely face Moraes for the available strap next year, further complicating matters for the Filipino spitfire.
Despite being temporarily pushed out of the title picture, Kingad is more determined than ever to rebuild his standing in the weight class.
“I know I can still compete at the highest level. This loss doesn’t define me. I’ll be back stronger and ready for whatever comes next,” he said.
The Lions Nation MMA member acknowledges the journey may be longer this time around, but he’s prepared to embrace whatever challenges lie ahead.
In fact, he’s even willing to take on the role of a gatekeeper in the Top Five rankings, if that’s what it takes to earn his way back to the top.
“I’m not looking for excuses, I’m just looking for a way back,” he said. “If it means having to face every fighter that ONE puts in front of me, then so be it. I’ll take that job just to prove I deserve to be here.”
Looking into the future, Kingad hopes to return to action early next year, with ONE Championship already announcing 13 premium live events for its main roster in 2025.
Competing on one of the cards in the first quarter seems like the ideal opportunity for Kingad to vindicate the personnel that prepared him for the second date with Moraes.
“This training camp has probably been the best one of my career. It was complete, if not fully complete, at least 95 percent complete. So I can say that everything went perfectly for me,” he shared.
“You’ll be able to see that in the fight because I was ready for whatever Moraes threw at me. For my future fights, I want to have this kind of camp again.”
For Kingad, it’s not about how many times you fall, but how you rise after each setback.
“I see the bigger picture. This is just one chapter in my career, and I’m not done yet,” he declared.
