By Jun Ray Navarres
Team Lakay’s newest female warrior Jenelyn Olsim is ready to take on #5-ranked women’s strawweight Maira Mazar in her ONE Championship main roster debut.
The product of ONE Warrior Series will make her big stage appearance at ONE: FISTS OF FURY III, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore scheduled for broadcast this Friday night, 19 March.
As a newcomer, Olsim wanted only to focus on what’s in front of her and just make heads turn after the night.
“It’s my first time on the big stage, and I feel both excited and nervous. I’ve worked with Team Lakay for a while now, and since joining the team, everything has changed for me,” Olsim told ONE Championship.
“Getting a belt isn’t on my mind right now, but definitely something I want in the future. For now, I just want to be the best I can be. I’m working on that.”
With the help of her stablemates two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang, and reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio, and under the tutelage of renowned Coach Mark Sangiao, Olsim says she has completely transformed herself as a fighter.
Now, she understands what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
“I’m very fortunate to be working with a team that will help me perform at my best on that big stage. I’ve learned a lot from everyone, not just in sharpening my technique, but also the kind of work ethic required to make it to the top. There’s a level of professionalism in training with Team Lakay and a champion’s mindset,” said Olsim.
“In Team Lakay, champions are not born, they are made. I’ve seen how iron sharpens iron, and how we can work together to improve our skills. It’s a privilege for me to train under my very experienced brothers and learn from them. They’ve reached the top already, so there’s a lot I can learn.”
Facing off with a veteran opponent in her promotional debut, Olsim has never forgotten to do her homework.
“I’ve seen and studied her fights. She is definitely a good fighter. Her biggest strength is her experience, but I’m not worried about that. I’m coming into this fight prepared. I’ll use my weapons to beat her. For now, all I can say is that she’s a good fighter, and we’ll see what happens when we face each other in the Circle,” said Olsim.
“I predict that this is going to be an exciting fight. When you have two fighters determined to win at any cost, it makes for an entertaining battle.”
Follow the writer on Twitter: @burnsports
