Phnom Penh: Cambodian mixed martial arts champion, Chan Rothana isn’t the type to back down from a challenge. Indonesia’s Eko Roni Saputra has recently called him out for a future matchup. Rothana says he’d love nothing more than to finish off another rising star from Indonesia.

Chan Rothana has become the guy to beat for Indonesian fighters. Back in December 2018, during an event by ONE Championship, the Cambodian Kun Khmer specialist squared off against then-undefeated “The Black Komodo”, Abro Fernandes. After weathering an early storm, Rothana crumpled his foe with a knee and rained down punches to earn a second-round TKO victory. The Phnom Penh native repeated the trick in May 2019, as he picked apart Rudy “The Golden Boy” Agustian to score another TKO.

Now the 35 year-old says he’s happy to meet Eko Roni. “I think he wants to gain redemption for his compatriots”, he says, “but I know I can beat Eko. I am just not sure whether it would be by points or KO. However, I don’t think we would last three rounds.” Rothana is currently training hard despite the pandemic with his team, Selapak, and his trainer Lorenzo.