By Jun Ray Navarres
Team Lakay’s newest fighter Jenelyn “The Graceful” Olsim is set to make her ONE Championship debut on March 19 in ONE: Fists of Fury III as she is scheduled to square off against Maria Mazar of Brazil.
Jenelyn, the sister of Jerry Olsim, both members of national Muay Thai team, find herself up against the top 5 contender of ONE women’s strawweight.
Mazar (7-3), representing Evolve MMA is well-versed in Wushu Sanda and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, taking various championships in Brazil. She holds a record of 1-1 under ONE promotion, with her recent fight coming off a win Choi Yung Joon of Korea in November last year.
Olsim on the other hand is a product of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series and a silver medalist in Muay Thai of 30th Southeast Asian Games. Still, “The Graceful” arsenal Mazar’s experience and prepares accordingly.
“She (Mazar) is a very experienced fighter basing on her record. She has fought a lot of experienced and tough fighters too, like for example, ‘yung champion ng UFC (Zhang Weili). She is good in wrestling basing on her last fight,” said Olsim in Team Lakay’s YouTube vlog.
“Inaral namin ‘yung mga galaw niya from her fights. Siyempre pinaghandaan namin ‘to. We have prepared for this fight that’s why I’m very excited. Me and my teammates, coach Mark Sangiao prepared for this fight because this will be my very first fight in the big stage, ONE Championship. I just hope na ma-showcase ko lahat ng techniques na inaral ko sa training namin.”
Team Lakay head coach Sangiao is also positive that Olsim will overcome this challenge and spark a light in her career.
“We prepared very well for this fight and fans will be witnessing how new and young generation of Team Lakay evolved. We believe in Jenelyn’s substantial skill and her strong character and will to prevail. The whole team have high hopes that she’ll be bringing victory home,” Sangiao told BurnSports.ph.
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