Splitting time for her training at the Team Lakay gym in La Trinidad, Benguet and Manila, an Olympic bronze medalist for wushu sanda hopes to bring her wares to the biggest mixed martial art stage on Friday, October 18, where she faces a Japanese veteran.
Mariane Mariano will face Noriku Ryu of Japan in the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 83 in a strawweight MMA matchup.
The 36-year-old Tuba, Benguet native has been fighting since her time with the Philippine national wushu team, where she clinched two gold medals in the sanda event at the Southeast Asian Games.
In 2008 in the Beijing Olympics, she took the bronze medal in wushu sanda.
Mariano has explored various martial arts, including combat sambo and Bokator where she earned medals that now adorn her walls.
She won a silver in the 2023 SEA Games return of the aforementioned Cambodian martial art.
The “Trigun” has an unblemished professional mixed martial arts standing of 3-0, with two of her victories coming by way of submission.
Her most significant win to date was when she outpointed ONE Championship alumna Jomary Torres by unanimous decision in an April 2023 duel under the URCC banner.
Ryu, 30, has a 2-0 record in the all-encompassing sport, with both wins achieved in the legendary Shooto organization.
However, the Japanese heroine is coming off a two-year layoff and looks to make a statement at Mariano’s expense.
Mariano is thankful that she finally got the break into ONE. “So blessed and thankful for this opportunity, “ she told this writer through a private message.
But Mariano hopes to trim down before the weigh in. “So far, I’m focusing on cutting down my weight,” she said. Currently, she weighs 60 kilograms and needs to trim down to 56 kg which, she said, is quite difficult.
She added that it’s “Challenging because of the dehydration test which is (my) first time in that kind of procedure, so I am having a hard time, I need to adjust.”
However, there are people who are helping her. She said, “So I’m thankful because there are those who guide and help me to lessen the burden and pressure.”
While she trains in Manila during weekdays, she is back home in Baguio during weekends, where she trains at the Team Lakay gym in La Trinidad.
This matchup is crucial for Mariano, as opportunities of this caliber may not come around again.
If she wins, she will certainly place herself in contention for a $100,000 contract and a chance to join the ONE main roster.
