Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu views his ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship opportunity against Fabricio Andrade as validation of his skills at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
The fourth-ranked Mongolian contender will face Andrade in his first main event on Friday, December 5, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Baatarkhuu earned the title shot after compiling a 6-1 record since winning the Road to ONE: Mongolia tournament in 2022, most recently earning a unanimous decision over fifth-ranked Jeremy Pacatiw at ONE Fight Night 29 in March.
The 36-year-old Team Tungaa representative recognizes the significance of competing in a main event world title fight after his journey from Khovd, Mongolia, to ONE Championship's global stage. The opportunity represents years of sacrifice and dedication culminating in a chance to prove himself against elite competition.
"I'm equally thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate my skills in such a major league. I'm sincerely grateful for the recognition of my skills and for giving me the chance to fight [in the main event]," Baatarkhuu said. "I'm very pleased that [ONE] is putting together such a high-level matchup. I believe they value my skills and trust that I can deliver a strong performance. This is basically the pinnacle of martial arts. It's a real test to see whether my skills are truly at a high level."
Andrade presents a formidable challenge with his devastating striking that has produced dominant performances throughout his title reign. The Brazilian captured gold by defeating John Lineker across two encounters before successfully defending his title with a 42-second knockout of Kwon Won Il at ONE 170 in January. His precision striking has made him one of the division's most feared finishers.
Baatarkhuu acknowledges the quality of opposition he faces in Andrade, whose championship experience and technical skills separate him from typical contenders. The challenger understands that capturing the title requires defeating a proven competitor who has consistently delivered at the highest level.
"Fabricio is very skilled and talented. He had many title fights, and he claimed the championship in his weight category. This is not something that someone with limited skills can do. He is a highly skilled, top-level fighter," Baatarkhuu stated.
The Mongolian grappler has built his success on smothering pressure and submissions against elite strikers. His formula worked against heavy-handed opponents including Jhanlo Mark Sangiao, Carlo Bumina-ang, and Aaron Canarte, all of whom fell to his suffocating style. Despite possessing the grappling tools to neutralize Andrade's striking, Baatarkhuu plans to utilize his complete mixed martial arts skill set rather than relying solely on one dimension.
"It's difficult to say at the moment, as we haven't truly faced each other in competition. It may only become clear what level a person is at on the day of the fight, with the outcome deciding afterward," Baatarkhuu explained. "In general, I use all types of mixed martial arts fighting styles and techniques. It's not only Muay Thai or kickboxing. I try to mix them all as much as possible. Well, I guess I might be [stronger]."
Former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion Narantungalag Jadambaa has guided Baatarkhuu's development since 2012. The retired pioneer captured ONE gold in August 2014 by defeating Koji Oishi, opening doors for an entire generation of Mongolian fighters. Baatarkhuu credits Jadambaa's influence for reaching championship level, having observed his trainer's preparation methods and absorbed the mental toughness required for elite competition.
"Undoubtedly, his influence was highly impactful. I first met my trainer in 2012, and we've been training together for many years," Baatarkhuu said. "I believe I reached my current level by observing how my trainer prepared to achieve such a high standard. The training I underwent at the World Championship level, as well as the preparation for my ONE Championship fight, was very intense."
A victory over Andrade would make Baatarkhuu only the second Mongolian to capture ONE Championship gold, carrying forward Jadambaa's legacy established over a decade ago.
"Watching my trainer compete in ONE Championship sparked a secret desire in me to follow in his footsteps. I'm absolutely thrilled that my wish has finally come true. And I will try to repeat his achievement 11 years ago," Baatarkhuu concluded.
