Narantungalag Jadambaa believes his longtime protege Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu possesses the persistence and work ethic necessary to capture the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship on Friday, December 5, in Bangkok.
The former ONE Featherweight MMA World Champion has trained Baatarkhuu since 2012 and will watch his student challenge Fabricio Andrade for the bantamweight title at ONE Fight Night 38. The opportunity represents a significant moment for Mongolian mixed martial arts, coming 11 years after Jadambaa became his country's first ONE World Titleholder.
Jadambaa captured ONE gold in August 2014 by defeating Koji Oishi, establishing a legacy that opened doors for the next generation of Mongolian fighters. Now the 49-year-old icon sees Baatarkhuu ready to follow that path, carrying the qualities that Jadambaa recognized when they first began working together over a decade ago.
"The most important advantage Enkh-Orgil has is that he is persistent and hardworking. He is hardworking and honest," Jadambaa explained. "Eleven years after I became World Champion, in the very organization where I held the title, my trainee Enkh-Orgil has earned the opportunity to fight for the championship belt. I'm personally very happy about this."
Baatarkhuu emerged from Mongolia's wrestling culture and carved his mixed martial arts path through consistency and discipline, compiling a 6-1 record since winning Road to ONE: Mongolia in 2022. His most recent victory came via unanimous decision over fifth-ranked Jeremy Pacatiw at ONE Fight Night 29 in March, cementing his fourth ranking and earning the title shot.
Andrade presents a formidable challenge with his eight-bout undefeated run in ONE Championship. The Brazilian captured the bantamweight title by defeating John Lineker across two encounters before defending his gold with a 42-second knockout of Kwon Won Il at ONE 170 in January. His precision striking and finishing ability have made him one of the division's most dangerous fighters.
Jadambaa acknowledges the quality of opposition his protege faces while maintaining confidence that consistent training will produce victory. The magnitude of the challenge only increases the significance of what a Baatarkhuu victory would mean for Mongolia's fighting legacy and the continuation of what Jadambaa started over a decade ago.
"Of course, his opponent is a strong and skilled champion. I hope that as a result of consistent training, he will win," Jadambaa stated.
The former featherweight titleholder identified Baatarkhuu's potential long before this championship opportunity materialized. Jadambaa points to his student's performance against previously undefeated Jhanlo Mark Sangiao at ONE Fight Night 13 in August 2023 as the clearest indication of his readiness for elite competition.
Baatarkhuu absorbed significant strikes from the surging Filipino before securing a second-round kimura submission that earned a $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. The victory demonstrated the composure and toughness required to compete at the highest level while showcasing Baatarkhuu's ability to execute his game plan under pressure.
"The moment I'm most proud of is when he won his match against Sangiao and earned a US$50,000 bonus. The opponent was a strong guy, and he was undefeated at the time," Jadambaa reflected. "Then, Enkh-Orgil followed his plan and endured a heavy blow as well. But I'm happy he went out there and won fairly. I was thrilled that he had accomplished his big goal."
