Ev Ting set to take on Ariel Sexton at ONE Championship: Quest for Gold in Myanmar

Ting learned plenty from his title fight loss with Folayang.
Ting learned plenty from his title fight loss with Folayang. Photo credit: Getty

Kiwi MMA fighter Ev Ting will look to take another step back towards lightweight title contention when he squares off with Ariel Sexton at ONE Championship: Quest for Gold next month.

The Aucklander of Malaysian heritage is coming off a show-stopping TKO win over Nobutatsu Suzuki in August after falling short in a razor-close decision loss against then-champion Eduard Folayang.

Rested and rejuvenated, the 28-year-old is eager to work his way back to the belt with an emphatic win over the Costa Rican veteran in Myanmar's capital of Yangon on February 23.

"I've had a switch of mindset against since the title fight and I'm now more focused one myself and the tasks at hand," Ting told Newshub.

Not that he's underestimating his hard-nosed opponent. Known as "Tarzan", 36-year-old Sexton (11-3) is riding a three-fight win streak - which includes two submissions and a knock-out  - but hasn't fought since July of 2016.

"He has plenty of experience and I'm sure he'll adapt to the ring rust well once the bell rings.

"However I'll definitely be pushing the pace to capitalise on any advantages which may arise."

"E.T" spent the first four weeks of his training camp with teammates at Auckland MMA with a focus on basic conditioning and tactics.

He's since made his way through the Philippines and Bali, making the most of the expertise on offer as he builds towards a landmark night in front of what is certain to be a raucous crowd in Yangon.

"I'm feeling strong and confident and have no injuries so I can't wait to test my skills against another contender in the division," Ting said confidently.

"I've heard amazing things about the crowd there, so I hope they enjoy the show.

"I will be bringing the belt home this year."

Newshub.