MMA: 3 of Ev Ting's career highlights in ONE Championship

MALAYSIA'S Ev Ting has made has figured in his fair share of memorable battles ever since he first decided to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

“E.T.” made his professional mixed martial arts debut in April 2011, and quickly rose to prominence in the years to follow. He joined ONE Championship in 2014, competed against the best athletes in the world, and even challenged for the richest prize in the sport -- the ONE World Title.

That being said, the 29-year-old’s best work could yet still be on the horizon.

Now embarking on the eighth year of his career, Ting is training diligently at Bali MMA in preparation for his quarterfinal match-up in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

Before he kicks off 2019, he shares three of his favorite career highlights.

#1 “That” world title shot in The Philippines

In April 2017, Ting made headlines when he became the first Malaysian to challenge for a mixed martial arts World Title.

He went up against ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang in a memorable 25-minute contest in the main event of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY.

As fate would have it, Ting would not be able to dethrone the division’s king.

Folayang put together one of the most comprehensive performances of his career en route to a unanimous decision victory.

While he did not claim the gold, the bout still serves as a career highlight for Ting.

“That was a real special moment to me,” the Malaysian-born Kiwi recalls.

“It was me against 20,001 people. I left it all in there with no regrets, and it made me a better person and a greater athlete overall.”

How right he was.

Ting came back four months later and defeated former ONE Welterweight World Champion Nobutatsu Suzuki in a single round. Then, he recorded two impressive decision wins against Ariel Sexton and Koji Ando.

#2 Testing his skills against the best

If there is one thing which continues to motivate “E.T.,” it's his determination to face only the very best in the sport.

The lightweight juggernaut felt honored to share the global stage with highly-respected mixed martial arts veterans such as Kamal Shalorus, Shinya Aoki, Rob Lisita, and the aforementioned Sexton and Ando.

However, there is one competitor who stands out from the rest.

“If I had to pick the best athlete I’ve faced, it has to be Shinya Aoki,” the Malaysian confesses.

“His credentials explain it all. He has been on top of the game for 20 years and finished most guys in round one. He is easily a top three greatest of all time in the world.”

Although Ting had a difficult time with the legend in their October 2018 bout, it is an experience he will cherish forever.

#3 Traveling around the world to compete

Ting has been blessed to travel all across Asia to train and compete in the continent’s most iconic cities. In the process, it has allowed him to experience various different cultures.

Among the places he has traveled to so far include Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Macau, and Thailand. But one stands out as his favorite.

“Macau is my favorite city to compete in simply because of the environment and the Studio City [Event Center] setting, which is perfect for ‘E.T.,’” he offers.

Despite that, he is always excited to return to the Malaysian capital, his home.

“Kuala Lumpur every time is such a special occasion,” he explains. “The food in Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang after every event in Malaysia is something I look forward to every time.”

Ting can expect to travel to newer cities and face even more world-class athletes in ONE this year.