“The One” locks up with Guluzada in a flyweight Muay Thai affair at the Saturday, 3rd May, event inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium, and he’ll be hoping to put a dampener on the Azerbaijani star’s debut on ONE’s global roster.
Guluzada earned a US$100,000 contract after three stunning wins, including two knockouts, in the ONE Friday Fights series. He has developed a reputation for his uber-aggressive approach, which Climaco plans to use against him when they square off.
“I just feel like he’s going to run into something he doesn’t see coming. He’ll dart in, and I’ll catch him,” he analysed.
“So I’m not necessarily going to say I’m going to be looking for it, but it will present itself when it’s there. And, of course, I’m going to go for the finish still.”
Given he’s 11 years older than his upcoming foe, many would consider Climaco the underdog ahead of ONE Fight Night 31. And this is backed up by Guluzada’s extensive amateur record.
But the 30-year-old powerhouse, who has amassed a 2-1 record in ONE against some notable competition, sees the age gap as a positive, believing his experience will shine through.
“I’m at this stage of my career now, I feel like guys who are young and hungry that come guns blazing – I’m more like the patient fighter. Because back then, I used to be that type of fighter that always wants to go forward and go guns blazing,” Climaco opined.
“So I feel like this is a step up for him to be facing a guy in his prime and more of a mature fighter.”
