Undefeated American Troy Worthen has his sights set on ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes, and hopes he can take another big step toward a title shot with victory at “ONE Championship 109: King of the Jungle.”
Worthen (6-0 MMA) takes on heavy-handed New Zealander Mark Abelardo at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Feb. 28, in a bout that, on paper, looks like a classic striker-vs.-grappler matchup.
“He’s definitely a striker, we all know that, so that’s definitely what he wants to do,” he said. “I’m sure he’s been working his takedown defense, but all my opponents work their takedown defense, and that’s not really stopping me so far.”
Since joining ONE Championship in 2019, Worthen picked up a pair of second-round TKO finishes, and is looking to complete a hat trick of wins to push himself toward title contention, and a shot at two-time bantamweight champ Fernandes.
“I do this to be the champion,” he stated. “I think I could take on Bibiano next week, you know? But unfortunately, I have to work my way up – not unfortunately, fortunately! But I’m gonna work my way up, and I think I’m ready for those guys.”
To prove that readiness, Worthen knows he needs an impressive showing against Abelardo (19-6), who has 11 knockout finishes to his name. And the 26-year-old said he will take the fastest route to victory when the pair throw down on fight night.
“The goal for me is always to get in and out healthy,” he said. “However I feel I can finish the fight quickly without taking any damage is what I’m going to do.
“But Mark’s an aggressive guy and he’s not going to go away easy, so it’s my job to go in there and make it look as easy as possible without taking damage. Obviously, he has different ideas of how that’s gonna go, but if I have it my way, it’ll be quick and easy just like the other ones, and you guys will find out what I have planned.”
