Ev Ting booked for ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix bout in Singapore

Ev Ting’s long wait has finally come to an end.

The former ONE Lightweight World Title challenger will make his return to mixed martial arts competition at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS on Friday, 22 February.

He is scheduled to face Turkish dynamo Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev.

The bout, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, will be a ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix quarter-final, and “E.T.” is raring to go against his versatile adversary.

“Saygid is a favorable and well-rounded athlete,” the 29-year-old Malaysian confessed.

“He is still young and pretty much undefeated with his only loss [being] a disqualification. I cannot wait to meet the young lion in the first wave of the Grand Prix.”

Ting, however, warned his opponent to expect the best version of himself come 22 February, as he aims to get into the ONE Lightweight World Title mix yet again.

“This fight will not need judges, and he will be tested in deep waters,” Ting said.

This bout will mark the Malaysian's first battle in Singapore since his defeat to Marat Gafurov at ONE: WARRIOR’S QUEST in May 2015.

Nearly four years removed from that first ONE Championship loss, “E.T.” said he is a better athlete in and out the cage.

“A defeat in competition is always some kind of setback,” he acknowledged.

“However, I am not new to the game. Victories are celebrated, but losses are what makes us.”

Ting could not have said it any better, as he has garnered seven wins in the past three years.

He looks to pick up his eighth, and 17th overall, at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS.

“I cannot wait for this memorable bout in Singapore as the nation is home to ONE Championship,” he added. “It is such an honor to bring my A game there.”

Ting will have his eyes locked on another ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix clash later in the night, as local hero Amir Khan takes on a familiar foe in Costa Rican veteran Ariel Sexton.

“I will definitely have my eyes glued to this one,” he admitted.

Five other bouts – announced on Thursday – will set to electrify fans in “The Lion City.”

In the main event, ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion Stamp Fairtex will attempt to become a two-sport World Champion when she challenges Janet Todd for the inaugural ONE Super Series Muay Thai Atomweight World Title.

Not to be forgotten, another entertaining match-up will see Nieky “The Natural” Holzken touch gloves with Mustapha “Dynamite” Haida in an all-European kickboxing clash between World Champions.

Listed below are the bouts announced so far:

Stamp Fairtex VS Janet Todd – ONE Super Series Muay Thai Atomweight World Championship

Amir Khan VS Ariel Sexton – ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix quarter-final

Ev Ting VS Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev – ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix quarter-final

Nieky Holzken VS Mustapha Haida – kickboxing lightweight bout

Rahul Raju VS Ahmed Mujtaba – mixed martial arts lightweight bout

Kong Sambo VS Zhang Chenglong – kickboxing bantamweight bout

Rudy Agustian VS Khon Sichan – mixed martial arts flyweight bout