Isi “Doxz” Fitikefu wants nothing but tough opponents as he climbs ONE’s welterweight MMA division, and he’ll lock horns with a man he’s long been targeting in U.S. primetime on Friday, May 2.
At ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Prime Video, the Tongan-Australian destroyer will take on former ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in a high-stakes clash that could produce the division’s next World Title challenger.
Fitikefu will enter this contest at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok having won his last two fights.
In his most recent appearance, he snapped Hiroyuki Tetsuka’s five-fight winning streak, effectively jumping the queue and putting himself within touching distance of reigning divisional kingpin Christian “The Warrior” Lee.
“Doxz” knows that a victory over Kadestam – who’s on a three-fight winning streak himself – would do wonders for his World Title aspirations.
But beyond his hunt for 26 pounds of gold, he’s excited to face a man who has cemented himself as a longtime force in the weight class. Fitikefu told onefc.com:
“When I first signed with ONE Championship, I had few people in my mind that I wanted to fight, and Zebaztian Kadestam was one of them because I knew he was one of the good guys in the division. And I’m willing to go out there and beat this guy.”
Fitikefu isn’t competing in the world’s largest martial arts organization for easy fights. He’s after the biggest challenges and most dangerous opponents available – and “The Bandit” certainly fits the bill.
The greater the challenge, the greater the achievement, he said:
“I just want to beat the best guys. I want to beat the best guys ever. He’s one of the best – he’s a former champ. And he’s one of the best everywhere.
“He’s dangerous, and I like fights like that because it sort of excites me, makes you nervous but excited at the same time. Like, it gives you butterflies in your stomach because you know you’re gonna get the best. And when the test is higher, then you rise to the occasion as well.”
After dropping a narrow split decision in his promotional debut, Fitikefu has shown marked improvements in his last two appearances.
Now in his final preparations for ONE Fight Night 31, he plans to ride that momentum and turn in a sensational performance against Kadestam:
“Every time I’m coming in, I’m coming bigger, better, faster, hungrier. My mentality has been always the same. It’s kill or be killed. And I’m not the one getting killed.
“I’m going to win. If it’s gonna be a decision, I’m gonna dominate. If it’s going to be a knockout, it’s me. If it’s a submission, it’s me. I have to be confident. I gotta believe in myself. That’s how I know I’m going to win.”
Fitikefu: ‘He’s Good, But I’m Better’
Beyond his unshakable mindset and self-belief, Isi Fitikefu is confident that he’s doing all the right things in training to ensure victory over Zebaztian Kadestam on May 2.
The key, he said, will be blending together all phases of MMA:
“I’m going to be a real mixed martial artist. The sport is mixed martial arts. It’s not just striking, not just grappling. I want to make it exciting just as much as I want to beat this guy, as well.”
A gifted athlete with preternatural skills for combat, “Doxz” has showcased a mixture of striking, ground-and-pound, and submission skills over the course of his nearly perfect professional career.
While he respects what Kadestam brings to the table, there’s no doubt in his mind that he’s the better overall fighter:
“He’s good everywhere. But like I always say, he’s good, but I’m better. I know I am better. I believe in it. If no one believes that, as long as I believe in myself and I do what I have to do out there, I know I’m gonna win.
“I know in this sport I gotta mix it up, hit them hard, mix up the grappling, mix it up. Nonstop pressure. And I know he’s gonna come with his A-game. He’s tricky. Totally tricky but he’s good, but I’m better. Like I always say, every fight, they’re good, but I’m better.”
