MIMMA 5 Grand Finals : EUNICE ONG MAKING SURE THE WOMEN BELT STAYS IN JOHOR

MMA is predominantly a male sports, more so in Malaysia. But Sabahan Ann 'Athena' Osman came & broke that stereotype 5 years ago, being the first Malaysian female Muslim MMA athlete.

Ann became the face of Malaysian female MMA. She was a true ambassador of the sports with her fighting prowess, personality and her media savyness. She inspired many women not just to take up MMA but to be more affirmative & confident.

 In 2015 MIMMA decided to introduce the female category as there were already a good healthy number of female MMA prospects and journalist Joanna Yap of Sarawak became the inaugural champion.

Ann announced her retirement last year. With her departure from active fighting, Jihin Radzuan from Johor filled in the void. Jihin was the 2nd MIMMA female champion in 2016. Undefeated in amateur MMA and multiple champion in Kickboxing & Muaythai. This year Jihin has moved up to become a pro fighter under ONE Championship.

Jihin herself, in turn inspired another female to take up MMA. Also from Johor, her name is Eunice Ong.

---------------------

Eunice qualified for MIMMA season 5 grand finals on Friday when she beat Amirah Najwa of KL with a split decision in the semi-finals. Going into the semis, Eunice was the leader of the pack in MIMMA5 league standings with 24 points.

This petite girl from Batu Pahat has a background in Wushu. She was Johor state champion for NanQuan, NanKun & Nanbao, and a silver medalist in national championship for NanQuan.

Eunice ( middle )

In primary school, TaeKwon-Do gave her some martial arts foundation. In her secondary school time in Chinese High School, she was active in Ping-Pong and Wushu. After high school Eunice attended Beijing Sports University.She studied sport science with focus on Wushu.

While studying in Uni as she study Wushu, inevitably she learn about MMA. Her interest grew in MMA and when she was back for holiday she began looking for an MMA gym. But no such place exist back in her home town. Mr Google came to her rescue and she managed to locate Ultimate MMA Academy (UMA) in Johor Bahru.

UMA is a pioneer MMA gym in Malaysia. Founded by non other than Malaysian pioneer himself a high school teacher name Melvin Yeoh. She and her husband took up lessons and Melvin shared his knowledge with her. Training together with Jihin, Eunice began to dream of success in MMA and wanting to win a championship belt too.

with her coach and mentor in MMA Melvin Yeoh

Back home in Batu Pahat, Eunice and her husband Golden Tan founded QYS Wushu Academy. Teaching Wushu and self defense to mostly children. 

As she progress her learning in MMA from Melvin in her weekend 100 over KM drive down to Johor Bahru, she started to teach MMA in QYS, making QYS a affiliated gym of UMA in Batu Pahat. 

with her husband Golden Tan

"It's not easy. Batu Pahat is a chinese populated town. Most chinese parents do not mind their children learning Wushu as it's steeped with tradition and the art form is easily appreciated. 

But not MMA... as Chinese parents does not like their children to get hit on the face. Furthermore, MMA in Batu Pahat is still new. Most people's perception of it is that its a brutal sports taken up by rough-lings, and most are very uncomfortable in the grappling style of BJJ"

"So some started taking MMA classes only out of curiosity, but the drop off rate is high."

Building the young generation of Batu Pahat

---------------------------------

In the grand finals she will face Gloria Isabelle Hoong of Sabah. She knew that Gloria has good grappling and being the lightest among the female in her weigh division, she had to work harder on the ground. Which is why Eunice is happy that she gets lots of valuable pointers from Jihin. Eunice and her husband has made more regular trip to UMA to further enhance her game plan form mentor Melvin.

with Jihin Radzuan

training with other UMA team mates

Melvin putting her through the drilss

Aside from running QYS Wushu Academy Eunice and her husband Golden Tan's also is the founder of Motion Art , a sportswear clothing brand with design on sports lifestyle and martial arts. Martial arts is their main source of income.

Eunice and Golden in their Motion Art t-shirt

"I join MIMMA 5 not only to win the belt, but at the same time to promote MMA in Batu Pahat. I hope my achievement can bring more awareness and in turn will encourage parents to send their kids to learn martial arts."

All the preparation is now all done. It's fight night, time for action. Eunice is determine to get that Women belt and she wants to make sure the belt remains in the royal land of Johor.

vs Gladys Molling in league 5

overcoming Amirah in the semis

MIMMA 5 GRAND FINALS - NAIMUL AMAL OVERCOMING ADVERSITY TO FULLFILL HIS DREAM

Fighting in the flyweight category in MIMMA5, Naimul ‘Convict’ Amal Othman  has come a long way since his first MMA match 5 years ago and has built a reputation as a brawler and a fighter that shows no mercy.

In MIMMA 5 league matches, he only fought twice, earning a TKO win and another split decision win, another 5 times was walk over win for him, as many other fighters seems to avoid meeting him in the cage. But he still able to take the no.2 spot in the league standings. With that he qualified for the semis in Feb and took a closely contested win over Brandon Tang.

hard fought victory over Brandon Tang in the semis

-------------------------------

Spotting a look close to Conor McGregor, but minus the hair and the trash talk, Naimul is a veteran in Malaysian MMA scene. Fought at featherweight in MIMMA season 1 way back in 2013, losing to eventual champion Keannu Subba in the semi-finals.

Hailing from Shah Alam, his teenage years was a time of teenage angst and hot hotheadedness. Venting his energy by getting involve in plenty of street fights, resulting in police apprehending him 3 times...hence the nick name 'Convict'. Naimul's interest in martial arts started early. He took up Silat in primary school.

rebellious days

Progressing in high school to Taekwondo. Winning a silver medal in the school district tournament in 2005. That same year, he saw The Contender on TV, which sparks his interest in Boxing. He was inspired by the winner of The Contender Sergio Mora.

He wanted a pair of boxing glove so bad to start training, but he could not afford one. So the 'convict' did what a 'convict' need to...he took his father's money to buy one. Once he had it, it was raging bull from there and he started training like mad on his own. Later on, his brothers Dhiaaul and some other friends also trains with him, in his home's garage.

He won't forget his experience in MIMMA. Season 1, in 2013, without much knowledge of MMA, but armed with his own martial arts experience he took it head on but lost to Keannu via rear naked choke. MIMMA season 2, he participated again. This time lost to eventual finalist Jenarten via armbar in the quarter-finals.

In MIMMA 3, he fought all the way to The Contender Fight. Meeting his own brother Dhiaaul. Naimul lost in round 2 via armlock.

fighting in Singapore's Lion Fight

in ONE Silat

Other than MIMMA, Naimul have beaten two Singaporean before. One in Singapore's Lion Fight League vs Charles Ferroa, and another one in Johor's Ultimate Beatdown, vs Mohd Faiz. With his amateur MMA experience he was offered to fight at ONE Silat as a pro and fought for the promotions three times.

in Sabah's Jesselton Fight League

After MIMMA3 in 2015, he skipped season 4 and fought only twice in 2016. Once in Jesselton Fight League and once in ONE Silat, both time the results did not side him. Now for MIMMA 5, he is back in the game.

So what motivate you to make a return to MIMMA?
"There’s always something sentimental with MIMMA as this is where my MMA path kick start and grow. So it would mean a lot to me if I can end my amateur journey with a MIMMA belt." 

--------------------------

His commitment to this championship is to the point that he quit his full time job to focus on training. He plans to fight in all the league matches, unfortunately 5 out of his 7 wins are from walk-over hence the allowance from fights were not able to sustain him. Hence he started to give personal training classes.

Leading up to semi-final fight, he had a high fever. That was one week before cutting weight week. Laying on the bed for a week unable to train was unbearable. Eventually he recovered and able to start training, but next come the issue with his motorbike tire. It was so worn out until the wire was exposed, it was very dangerous for him to ride to gym but he does not have enough money to buy new ones.

The night before his semi-finals fight… so many things went through his mind that he could not sleep at all. The next day even without rest he still make sure he step up into the cage and carry on his duty to fight.

“My journey in MIMMA5 has not been easy. There’s so many up and down. The above are just some parts of it. But through all this ; my parents, family, wife and daughter were always there. They always give me support, rain or shine, they are really my pillar of strength.” 



"I tell myself in whatever situation, I just ignore the negative parts and just keep on going forward. The true opponent is my own negative self. Physical challenges is no 2, the no.1 challenge is mental.”

Many would have given up at the first sign of challenge. But Naimul persevere. His passion is combat sports, is his true calling. And he dream of opening his own gym one day and share his knowledge and skills to produce new generations of great fighters from Malaysia.

Even though fighting currently in amateur MMA does not provide him income, he is willing to go through this tough time to live his dream. He does not want to have a regret when he is old that he never did what he love.

Currently Naimul trains with Coach Joe Lorenzo Kitingan. Together with his brother Dhiaaul Amal (Bantamweight finalist) in the Kitingan Fight Team. They train every day, 2 sessions per day, striking in the morning, grappling in the evening.

In 2015 both him and Dhiaaul fought in flyweight and eventually the best will meet the best and they faced in other in the contender fight to determine who gets to go to the finals. Dhiaaul won that day in a very emotional victory.

This year, Dhiaaul is fighting in bantamweight. Both of them has reached the finals. This time together. This will be Naimul's motivation, his dream to go home with his brother both as MIMMA Champion.

with Dhiaaul as they prepare for grand finals together

On what he thinks of his rematch with Jay in the grand finals,
"Will be interesting fight. He's a grappler. Its going to be challenging fight for me. But I will prepare for evrything.

Naimul has overccame Jay once in league 2 with a submission win and he believe he will be able to do so again in the finals

When you already hit bottom, the only direction left is up. Naimul has gone through plenty of challenges and now is on the path back to reach the top. When the cage close on 30 March, he will let his fist and kicks do the talking.

MIMMA 5 GRAND FINALS : JAY MURAN USING MARTIAL ARTS TO COMBAT LEUKEMIA

Of all the weigh division in MMA, the flyweight is the most action pack due to their lighter weight. KO may not be a regular game ender in this category but submission and fast pace techniques is a guarantee.  Jay Muran is  a fighter in this category.

Fighting in the MIMMA’s 5 league, Jay Jay Anak Muran stands above the other 7 fighters in his division with 27 points. Jay was one of the most active fighters in the division. He fought 5 times before qualifying for the semis.

In that 5 times he loss one time to Naimul Amal, all his other 4 wins are by finishes. He extend his winning streak in the semis by choking out Muhd Iskandar.

Semi-finals victory for Jay

------------------------------

Let’s get to know better this small dynamite from Sarawak.

Jay Jay Anak Muran. His father is an Iban from Sarawak while his mother is Indonesian whom grew up in Tawau, with Chinese and Toraja heritage. Born in a small town call Kanowit in Sibu Sarawak with four other older siblings.

Jay holds the life principle that if you work hard, success will follow. He did well academically and enroll in Mukah Polytechnic for petroluem production studies. After graduating in 2013, he was looking forward to apply his knowledge by working in the oil fields, as he was offered to further his studies in INSTEP (Institute Teknologi Petroluem PETRONAS). This required him to pass a medical test…which he failed as he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

" End of 2013 I get offer continue my study with INSTEP but failed for medical checkup, and diagnosed with Leukemia so I went and get treatment."  

"After that I get offer again (for 2nd time) and I pass my medical test this time because my blood was stable. I studied for 1 year at INSTEP and graduated in June 2015, after that I went for Petronas interview and pass but my medical test again failed due to the condition of my blood.”

at INSTEP

He is on medication and is feeling physically fine. But the disappointment of not able to build a career in the lucrative oil and gas industry affect him emotionally. His hope was crushed and his mind was clouded with uncertainties. That was when he decided to use work out as a way to calm his mind.

He enroll in Muayfit Damansara Perdana and met his coach Lito Adiwang of Philipines, a professional MMA athlete. Lito uses martial arts to guide Jay to develop his physical health and also mental strength. Jay took on Lito’s teaching like fish to water. And soon within a year he was able to develop a career in the fitness industry as a trainer.

Jay now teaches at Fitness First iOi Mall Puchong. He has moved on from Muayfit to FightFam MMA gym lead by his captain Michael Mah. He also cross train at Marcos Escobar BJJ in Kota Damansara under Kenneth Lam.

Jay (L) having a career as a fitness trainer at Fitness First

training at MEBJJ

his fight gym at Fight Fam MMA

-------------------------

vs Raziman at league 1

appearing with Azreel in HotFM promo

Jay holds a current MMA amateur record of 8-2-0. His 2 loss comes from, in 2016’s MIMMA season 4 to Eddey Kalai. The time when he barely have a few months of training under Lito.

His other loss was to Naimul during league 2.

choked out by Naimul in league 2

On how is his preparation for the rematch with Naimul, this time in the grand finals.

“I prepare more on my cardio and ground game...I know I lost to him by bulldog choke in league 1...but I believe my ground game is better than him." 

"This will be revenge time all out and I'm not even scared to get injure because this is the grand finals."

There seems to be a personal fued going on between Jay and Naimul. As both were involve in a short altercations during the shooting of the grand finals promo video.

This bad blood between the two of them is fueling Jay's determination to do his utmost best. To Jay whatever happens, he will lay it all out in the cage.

This will certainly be a bout not to be miss. Grab your tickets folks, and get ready for a busy night!

setting his eyes on the gold