Rolando Gabriel Dy

Fit as a fiddle

December 3, 2021 Ed Andaya 664 views

MIXED martial arts superstar Rolando Gabriel Dy is fit as a fiddle — again.

And Dy, son of former World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Rolando Navarrete, is ready and raring to bring it on against Slobodan Maksimovic of Serbia in Brave CF 56 in Belgrade, Serbia on Dec. 18.

It will be one hell of a fight.

“Handang-handa na ako kahit sa malayong lugar pa yung laban. Sa Dec. 13 pupunta na ako sa Serbia,” said Dy during the 129th episode of the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom recently.

The 30-year-old fighter, from Parañaque City who earned the monicker “Dy-Incredible” in a colorful career that started in 2011, vowed to do his best to beat his Serbian rival and redeemed himself from a disappointing TKO loss to Abdisalam Kubanychbek in Brave CF 47 last March.

His newest rival, Maksimovic, is no pushover. He is currently Europe No. 5 title contender.

“Although the fight was confirmed to me only two weeks ago, lagi naman ako handa. I even hired a strength and conditioning coach after my last fight,”added Dy during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

“Kapag tinalo ko sya (Maksimovic), tataas uli ako sa ranking pati yun mga susunod na kalaban ko,”added Dy, who has a MMA fight record of 14 wins and 10 losses.

Dy, who rose to prominence in the.Ultimate Fighting Championship, also dismissed speculation that he will be fighting a little bit rusty.

“I don’t think kinakalawang ako. Sa MMA, it’s healthy to fight twice a year lalo na kung big promotions. In 2019, I fought five times. Then last year, I fought twice. Gusto ko sana two to three fights a year. Awa ng Diyos, nabigyan ako ng laban bago matapos ang taon,” explained Dy, the former Abu Dhabi Warriors featherweight champion.

“Konting pa-kundisyon na lang ng utak. Minsan kasi, an MMA fighter can be physically-ready but not mentally-ready. Kailangan ko na lang talaga ma-kondisyon ang utak and them I’m ready.

Plus konting adjustment sa tulog. Yun laban ko kasi dun sa Serbia, parang alas kuwatro ng madaling araw dito sa atin. Sa kanila, mga alas nuebe or alas diyes ng gabi.”

Asked about this chances against the Serbian fighter, Dy exuded confidence.

“Sa tingin ko, I’m the better and more-experienced MMA fighter. Kumpara sa kanya, I already fought high-caliber fighters in higher level organizations,” said Dy.

“Yung last opponent ko na tumalo sa akin is No. 3 of Russia. Sabi nga nila, yun maging No. 3 ka sa Russia means parang No. 2 ka in the world. He’s really one of the best na nakalaban ko in UFC and my entire career. He’s really one of the best in the world. So yun confidence level ko despite losing to him, mataas pa din.”

“Tapos napanood ko yung mga laban ng kalaban ko ngayon. Kung tutuusin, magaling din siyang fighter. Pero yun nga, I fought better fighters. Maganda talaga yun mga magagaling lagi ang nakakaharap mo.

Makikita mo kung naasaan na yun level mo in the world stage. In my last few opponents, magagaling mga tinalo ko, like John Brewin na 2019 Mega Fighter of the Year. Pati teammate nya na si Alex Volkanonovski. Kaya yun darating na laban ko, I will enter with a lot of confidence,” explained Dy.

Dy had no complaints that he will be fighting with only a week before Christmas.

“Sanay na din ako.Ilang beses na nangyari sa akin, like nun 2019 when I fought in Saudi Arabia against a Russian on Dec. 25. Ngayon, mag-pasko ako sigurado sa quanrantine, na hindi kasama ang pamilya. Sakripisyo yun. Pero kung manalo, Merry Christmas tayo,” said Dy. With reports from Gab Ferreras

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