Eko Roni Saputra Reviews 2022, Believes His Time Is Now

Eko Roni Saputra’s evolution in ONE Championship saw the Indonesian star go from a debut loss to a seven-fight winning streak – all in a matter of a few years.

The previous 12 months, however, have been especially good to Saputra, who strengthened his position among his fellow flyweights with two more first-round wins.

The two-time Freestyle Wrestling Champion picked up a set of submission victories to extend his record to 7-1. 

First, the one they call “Dynamite” dominated Chan Rothana in just 94 seconds with a rear-naked choke. Following that unscathed outing, his next assignment was against promotional veteran Yodkaikaew Fairtex last October at ONE 162. 

In a bout that the decorated scrapper felt many counted him out of, Saputra once again delivered the goods with a masterful heel-hook finish in 2:16 of round one.

Reflecting on his clean sweep last year, Saputra feels the doubters have been silenced. 

“2022 has been fruitful for me. I see this year as a massive accomplishment,” he said. “There are people who underestimated me every time I fought, like when I faced Chan [Rothana] and Yodkaikaew [Fairtex]. They had always considered me a nobody. 

“After all the time, discipline, hard work, and hard training, these are all my accomplishments for 2022. For me, personally, 2022 was good to close the chapter on [fighting] the lower ranks. Now, it’s time to be among the top ranks.”

The accoladed wrestler isn’t hanging on to past glory, though. He is committed to making the most of 2023. 

The fighter who suffered defeat in his first professional MMA bout is now on a meteoric, undeniably steady rise. But despite the hype gathering around the Evolve MMA representative, he knows he still has points to prove before he gets his opportunity at the ONE Flyweight World Title.

“I see bright lights in 2023. Surely to reach that light, it will take [time], and I want to be in the top-five rankings first,” the Samarinda athlete said. 

“Having said that, I don’t want to go over my head. I want to do it step by step, and I don’t want to think that I am this great guy who can do anything. I must conquer what is ahead of me and not [think] too far ahead. Simply said, I must win every single bout.”

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