Janet Todd: 'Competing in Japan is a dream come true'

Janet “JT” Todd fulfills her lifelong dream of competing in Japan at ONE: CENTURY PART I this Sunday, 13 October, against Ekaterina “Barbie” Vandaryeva in a three-round atomweight Muay Thai battle.

Todd had always dreamed of competing in The Land Of The Rising Sun, a place dubbed as the home of martial arts in Asia.

The spectacle at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan will offer her a career milestone and a chance to be part of martial arts history.

“First of all, to be on this card is amazing,” the 33-year-old said.

“I’m fighting [on the same card] with Demetrious Johnson, so that just blows my mind, and Angela Lee is the headliner for my card, so to be on the same event as them is just unbelievable.”

“Then, to be able to fight in Japan in front of my friends and family out there, it’s literally a dream come true for me.”

The other reason she is thankful for this opportunity is because the two-time IFMA Pan-American Muay Thai Champion’s mom and other family members come from Japan.

Because of that, she does not want to disappoint her local supporters when she steps foot in the Circle during the world’s largest martial arts event in history.

“A win here is very important because it is in Japan in front of my family and friends,” Todd said.

“I also think all fights are important because it’s another step towards being able to challenge for the belt again.”

Though she has her sight on Stamp Fairtex’s ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Titles, Todd must first keep her focus on her upcoming adversary who is also successful in “the art of eight limbs.”

Still only 28, Vandaryeva has already amassed three Muay Thai World Titles, including a hard-contested victory over Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2011. But “JT” is not deterred.

“These are the types of people I want to keep fighting,” the California native said.

“I want to fight people with experience, people who are going to push me to be better. I honestly think the fighters that challenge you, bring out the best in you.”

“That’s what I look forward to, and ONE Championship has done a really good job of doing that for me.”

The Home Of Martial Arts will break new ground as it brings multiple World Title bouts, a trio of World Grand Prix Championship Finals, and several World Champion versus World Champion matches to the famous Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.