Indonesia

Geje Eustaquio prepares for Gianni Subba’s best version

Nissi Icasiano

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Geje Eustaquio prepares for Gianni Subba’s best version
Both men are set to square off in the co-headliner of ONE: Global Rivals on April 15

MANILA, Philippines – Geje Eustaquio and Gianni Subba have yet to meet eye-to-eye inside the ONE Championship cage, but the two flyweight fighters have battled common opponents in the past.

Both men are set to square off in the co-headliner of ONE: Global Rivals, which will be held at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on April 15.

Eustaquio and Subba both made their promotional debut in 2012 and have shared 3 similar counterparts throughout their 4-year stint as ONE Championship competitors, but the outcomes of those matches were different. 

Eustaquio easily routed compatriot Eugene Toquero to pick up a unanimous decision win in December 2013.

Meanwhile, Toquero effortlessly wore down Subba with vicious strikes in the stand-up department and then mauled him on the ground in three rounds to earn an undivided verdict from the cageside officials in May 2014. 

Eustaquio tasted his fourth career loss at the hands of Anatpong Bunrad via split decision in April 2015, but Subba managed to pull off a razor-thin victory over the hard-hitting Thai stalwart last December. 

Subba submitted fellow countryman Saiful Merican with a second-round armbar in February 2013, while Eustaquio brutally knocked out the Malaysian combatant with a left hook and follow-up soccer kick this past January.

If their respective bouts with Toquero will be considered as the gauge, the odds would easily point to Eustaquio. 

However, Eustaquio dispels the notion that he is favored to win because he believes that both of them have evolved in their craft since then. 

“Gianni lost to Eugene before, which means Gianni is a better fighter now. I believe that those real fighters learn a lot on their errors or downfalls. They assess it and come back stronger. I outpointed Eugene way back before and he learned his lesson that’s why he beat Gianni,” he told Rappler. 

Since yielding to Toquero, Subba has piled up 4-straight triumphs, including a 20-second stoppage of Australia’s Than Vu in March 2015.

Many observers suggest that Subba presents a stiff test to Eustaquio due to his well-rounded background, but the 26-year-old native of Baguio City, Benguet begs to disagree as he lauded the foes that he faced before. 

“Gianni is well-versed, but so do I. Plus, I fought the tough ones. I bet he did not,” Eustaquio said. 

The 5-foot-5 Team Lakay representative danced with the likes of Andrew Leone and Kentaro Watanabe. 

Eustaquio furnished a right to vie for the inaugural ONE flyweight championship in September 2014, but he lost to Brazil’s Adriano Moraes via second-round submission.

Given the Malaysian’s highly-touted grappling pedigree, Eustaquio expects that Subba will try to negate his striking advantage. 

According to Eustaquio, he is prepared for wherever the fight goes as his honed skills on the mat are yet to be seen. 

“Gianni knows that I have the edge in terms of striking and endurance. He will be coming to this fight with all of his wrestling and jiu-jitsu arsenal. This makes me happy because once and for all I will test my grappling skills,” he asserted. 

Although it will be the second-consecutive time this year that he is booked to lock horns with a Malaysian stalwart, Eustaquio reiterated that it is going to be plain business for him.

“Gianni will be coming to the Philippines with a pure business thought. He is designed to fight and win, but I’m also made to come out on top. Revenge is not a part of my dictionary. I make friends and I don’t collect enemies,” he ended. – Rappler.com

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