For Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado, fighting was never a choice; it was his only escape.
The Filipino has garnered a reputation as one of the most thrilling knockout artists in ONE Championship’s strawweight MMA division. He is a strategic striker whose precise strikes have created some of the promotion’s most stunning highlight moments.
Yet, beneath those knockout finishes lies a weight that most opponents can’t fathom. Long before he captivated global audiences, Miado was focused on survival.
As he prepares for his crucial flyweight MMA battle against Willie “White Lion” van Rooyen at ONE Fight Night 41 on Prime Video in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on March 13, Miado reflects on the unexpected journey that has brought him here.
“I’ve been doing hard labor since childhood. Growing up as a farmer made it challenging to make ends meet. I took on various odd jobs, even working at a funeral home during high school.”
“To attend college, I had to become a working student. After hard work, I earned my criminology degree, but I chose not to pursue it. I saw my future in MMA and dedicated myself fully.”
While mixed martial arts was always his goal, the path there took an unanticipated turn. Miado grew up in a country where boxing is revered, with Manny Pacquiao as a larger-than-life figure.
At the time, MMA was still emerging in the provinces, while boxing dominated local events. Miado participated in all kinds of boxing matches, driven by necessity and his natural skill. His height, timing, and knockout power significantly complemented his lean physique.
From Striker to All-Around Martial Artist
In his early career, Jeremy Miado relied heavily on his powerful punches. Six out of his seven victories in ONE Championship came through spectacular KOs. He was close to a title shot after defeating opponents like Miao Li Tao and Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang.
However, as competitors adapted, they began to succeed by taking the fights to the ground, neutralizing his striking advantages. Losses to grappling experts like Mansur Malachiev left him with a four-fight losing streak that compelled him to adapt.
“My opponents understand my strengths in striking, so they try to grapple me. After feeling my power, they often seek to take me down.”
“I recognized the need to evolve. If I didn’t work on my weaknesses, grapplers would continue to dominate me. I dedicated myself to addressing those challenges and became accustomed to struggling through difficult positions.”
Initially, grappling felt unfamiliar, but as he delved into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he began to appreciate its nuances. The positional complexity and submission techniques clicked in ways he never expected. Miado acknowledges there’s still room for improvement, but his enhanced grappling has only increased his striking threat.
Preparing for his match against Willie van Rooyen, Miado aims to showcase just how much he has progressed.
“I started slowly, focusing on escaping positions and finding ways back to my feet.”
“Eventually, I got comfortable implementing offensive techniques too. Once I grasped the details of submissions, my defense improved significantly.”
