By his own admission, it’s been an "interesting ride" to the top flight of mixed martial arts in Asia for ONE Championship fighter Andrew Leone.
The New York native will challenge incumbent champion Bibiano Fernandes for the bantamweight title in the main event of ONE Championship: Kings & Conquerors in Macau this weekend after a journey which has seen the him traverse the continent.
After moving to Bangkok eight years ago, the avid surfer ventured to Indonesia on a quest for waves, but ultimately ended up staying for the combat.
There’s a symbiotic relationship between the two sports that is undeniable, according to Leone.
"There are definitely weird similarities between the ocean and martial arts. You get a lot of humbling experiences from both of them," he told Newshub.
"There’s a flow state that you get into when you’re riding the wave, and also when you’re making really smooth transitions. I’m not sure how you can measure it but there’s definitely some connection."
Now owner of his own gym 'Bali MMA' in Jakarta, where he lives and trains, the benefits of the relocation have certainly been paying off.
"There are a lot of high level instructors out here. There’s a lot of people to learn from, there’s a lot of great training partners – and that’s all you need really.
"You need good bodies and good minds and a good group of people to grow, and that's what we have going over in Bali."
The 27-year-old will face the sternest test of his rapid improvement to date when he takes on Fernandes on Saturday night in what will be his first bout in almost 18 months.
Currently amid a 12-fight win streak, the Brazilian has been tearing through all comers during his six-year reign as champion, and Leone knows he'll need to be at his peak to solve the puzzle that's proved near impossible to date.
However, there are clear areas where the American, a former Pan-Asian wrestling champion, sees he has an advantage and will be looking to capitalise, including the exuberance of youth.
"I’m a lot younger. I think I’m faster, I’ve got some good scrambling, punch harder, and I’m a little bit taller," Leone says of his 37-year-old opponent, who is one of the faces of the promotion.
"He thinks it’s just going to be another fight, I’m going to get there in and just wrestle him.
"I see a lot of different positions coming up that I’m going to take advantage of and come out on top. But it depends, he’s got a little head so I’m probably going to grab it at some point."
Leone's gym, which he runs with brother and fellow fighter Anthony, has become a breeding ground for both local and international talent, and he's aware of the plaudits a championship victory against the likes of Fernandes would do for its profile.
"It’s just another opportunity to show a good amount of people what type of talent we've got in the room at Bali MMA."
Win or lose, Leone is here to stay, and the "amazing" ONE Championship, alongside Asia itself, are his new homes.
"In a way they’ve kind of connected a lot of bridges for me to be here where I am now, and it’s a great thing to be a part of. I'm going to retire with them for sure," he says of the ever-expanding organisation, which is now the largest sports league on the continent.
"I plan to keep developing our gym with our partners and our team, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."
Newshub.
