‘I See Angles That Some Fighters Don’t See’ – How Boxing Laid The Fou… — and more

For Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado, fighting was never a choice. It was the only way out.

The Filipino has built a reputation as one of the most exciting knockout artists in ONE Championship’s strawweight MMA division. He’s a cerebral striker whose sharp hands have produced some of the promotion’s most electrifying highlight-reel moments. 

But the man behind those finishes carries a weight most opponents could never imagine. Long before he entertained global audiences, Miado was simply trying to survive.

Ahead of his pivotal flyweight MMA showdown with Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen at ONE Fight Night 41 on Prime Video, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, March 13, Miado reflected on the unlikely road that brought him to this point.

The 33-year-old veteran recalled:

“I’ve been working hard labor since I was a kid. I grew up as a farmer, and it was really hard to make ends meet. I had a lot of odd jobs just to make money. I even worked at a funeral home one time during my high school days.

“To make it to college, I had to become a working student. Through hard work, I got my degree in criminology, but I didn’t pursue it. I saw my future in MMA, and I just gave it my full attention.”

While mixed martial arts was always the destination, the road there took an unexpected detour.

Miado grew up in a country where boxing isn’t just a sport. It’s a religion, immortalized by Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division World Champion in history.

MMA was still blossoming in the provinces back then, while boxing was everywhere — fiestas, street bouts, and sanctioned cards. Miado fought on all of them, driven by necessity and undeniable natural gifts. His length, timing, and knockout power belied his wiry frame.

A 32-2 amateur record gave “The Jaguar” every reason to turn professional. His sights, however, were always set on the all-encompassing sport. 

Miado shared:

“I started in an MMA gym with the intention of fighting in MMA. It’s just that getting boxing matches was a lot easier than getting MMA fights back then, especially in the province I was in. I just accepted the opportunities that were given and kept fighting.

“That’s why I have some of the sharpest and most powerful hands. I guess my timing and reflexes [come from there] as well. I see angles that some fighters don’t see.”

For Miado, martial arts was never purely about competition. It was salvation, a way to rewrite a story that had been written against him from the start. 

Now with a family of his own, that purpose runs even deeper. Everything he endures is for the son watching at home.

Miado said:

“I grew up in poverty, and I experienced how hard it is. From being a child to an adult, I’ve had a rough life. So, I don’t want my kid to experience the same thing. But thank God I made it to ONE Championship.”

From Pure Striker To Complete Martial Artist

In the early years, the dynamite in Jeremy Miado’s fists was enough. Six of his seven ONE Championship victories ended by ferocious knockouts. 

Stoppages over Miao Li Tao, Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang, and “Mini T” Danial Williams had him knocking on the door of a ONE Strawweight MMA World Title shot. 

But the division soon caught up. Opponents found their answer by taking the fight to the ground, stripping him of his greatest asset. Submission losses to grappling specialists Mansur Malachiev and Keito “Pocket Monk” Yamakita triggered a four-bout slide that forced him to evolve or be left behind. 

“The Jaguar” explained:

“My opponents already know my strengths in striking, so they really try to take me to the ground. As soon as they taste my power, they go for my legs or take me down from the clinch.

“I knew I had to adjust. I had to evolve because everyone would just dominate me in grappling if I stayed the same. I worked really hard to address my issues and made it a focus to find a way to be comfortable in compromising positions.”

Admittedly, grappling felt foreign at first. Over time, though, peeling back the layers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu revealed its beauty to the natural striker.

The positional intricacies and the geometry of submissions clicked in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Miado knows there is still ground to cover, but the foundation is there, and it has only made his striking more dangerous.

Against Willie van Rooyen on March 13, he intends to prove just how far that evolution has come.

“The Jaguar” said:

“I started slow at first. The focus initially was just to get out of positions and find the best routes to get back on the feet.

“But eventually, I got comfortable working on attacks as well. I began working on offense. And once I learned how these submissions work, my defense actually got better.”

Source

It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest nightspot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. You know you’re always welcome here. Come on in and spend some time with us. There’s no cover charge. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked for your opinion about the World Baseball Classic. Most of you were reasonably positive about it as 38 percent of you said you “Like it” and 26 percent of you said that you “Love it.” Only six percent of you want to see it discontinued.

On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz, so you’re free to skip that now.

Tonight we have pianist Jacky Terrasson playing the Michel Legrand music from maybe my favorite movie musical of all time, “Les parapluies de Cherbourg” (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). This is a much more upbeat version of the music than the more melancholic take that’s in the film.

Joining Terrasson is Kenny Davis on bass and Alvester Garnett on drums. This performance is from 2024.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Tonight’s question is simple. Where are the Cubs going to get their power? Who is the biggest home run threat on the team?

So who is going to lead the team in home runs? Every year I ask this question and I don’t think we’ve ever predicted right. Since 2020, the Cubs’ team home run leader has been a surprise more often than not:

2020: Ian Happ—12

2021: Patrick Wisdom—28

2022: Patrick Wisdom—25

2023: Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel—26

2024: Ian Happ—25

2025: Michael Busch—34

I don’t think any of those winners were expected at the start of the season. Wisdom came out of nowhere twice. I suppose Busch was a reasonable pick this time last year, but was he really favored over Kyle Tucker or Seiya Suzuki? Bellinger doesn’t look unreasonable in retrospect, but he was coming off getting non-tendered by the Dodgers. On top of that, he only tied with Christopher Morel, who was also a shock winner of the Cubs HR title.

So with the understanding that we’re all likely to be wrong, who will hit the most home runs for the Cubs in 2026?

I hope I don’t have to explain who any of these people are.

Thank you for stopping by tonight. We were glad to host you. Please get home safely. Tell us if you need us to get a ride for you. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.

The former Heisman Trophy winner was fired up.