Filipino contender fighting for redemption
Rockie Bactol has seen the bright lights and, while he fully intends to perform beneath them again, for now he appreciates getting back to his roots.
The Filipino contender steps into the MMA ring for TFC (Thailand Fighting Championship) this Friday vowing to put on a show for what he says is his favourite promotion.
“I love fighting for TFC, because when you’re coming from rock bottom, it’s the best place to earn your redemption,” he says.
No title on the line, but a big challenge awaits
Still, the “rock bottom” that Bactol speaks of sits at a higher altitude than most athletes can dream of scaling. Suffering a defeat to Akihiro Fujisawa at ONE Championship in 2018 may have stung that bit more because so many more people watched it, but only the finest talents in Asia are even offered a chance with the Singaporean superpower.
For now, “God’s Warrior” is content regrouping with TFC, a relative newcomer staging its eighth event on Friday, but a brand, helmed by multi-sport veteran Will Chope, that has one of the fastest-rising reputations in the region.
“I’m gonna fight for a big promotion again eventually, but right now I just want to fight, fight, fight, and get as much experience as I can,” Bactol says.
Next up is a showdown with American Stephen Pritchett, who represents Tiger Muay Thai, one of Thailand’s most respected gyms and sitting a stone’s throw away from Bangla Stadium in Phuket, where TFC8 will be staged.
It’s a late-notice switch of opponents for Bactol after original foe Shiv Kumar withdrew from what was supposed to be TFC’s inaugural championship match, for the featherweight MMA belt.
There will be no title on the line against Pritchett, but the fight still represents a stern challenge for Bactol, for different reasons.
‘I’m always the underdog – and I like that’
“His advantage is that he’s bigger than me,” explains Bactol. “I wanted to fight him at 70kg [lightweight], but he said he can’t go lower than 73.
“So I said ‘you know what? Never mind. I’ll take the fight and go to war.’ It’s another big boy to beat on.”
“I don’t choose my fights. I told TFC I’ll fight anybody. I can’t call myself a professional if I pick and choose my fights – I’m a warrior, not a pretty boy!”
Of course, Bactol, who represents Stray Cats Fight Team in Bangkok, aims to get back to the big leagues, but for the competition more than the social media recognition that might be more important to a lot of “pretty boys”.
“Once you get comfortable, you start to see fighting like a nice job, you’re trying to please sponsors, you’re taking pictures here, there and everywhere, you kinda relax,” he explains.
“But TFC reminds you: hey, you got a fight this Friday! Focus!
“Other promotions might take care of you nicely, give you this and that, but TFC is very raw. You bring in your own stuff, put your handwraps on, and prepare for war.
“It’s a warrior mentality. It reminds me of the old days when I was just starting out.
“I don’t want to be taken care of. I want to be the underdog. I’m always the underdog, and I like that.”
And so it is again on Friday, when Bactol fights a man who normally operates two weight classes above him.
“You know what, my opponent has two arms and two legs, and everybody’s got a weakness,” he says. “I spar twice a week with guys who are 85kg, 90+kg; they’re fricking strong.
“I don’t underestimate nobody. This could be my hardest fight.
“But I’m just gonna go out there, bite down on my gumshield, bang with him and wrestle… Death before dishonour!”
LINKS
TFC 8 event page
Bactol conquers Alexander in TFC 6 main event
Rockie Bactol athlete bio
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