KUALA LUMPUR — From humble beginnings, Murugan “Wolverine” Silvarajoo is now thrust into the spotlight with his debut bout in One Championship.
Murugan, who coaches and trains out of Muayfit PJ, is set to fight Eko Roni Saputra from Indonesia in One: Reign of Dynasties event in Singapore today.
Not a profession but a lifestyle
Like many Malaysians, Murugan had his first taste of martial arts when he joined taekwondo at the age of 8-years-old.
“I fell in love with taekwondo first and joined my first class after my dad allowed me to participate.”
“But I stopped classes when I was around 14-years-old, to focus on other things including studies and work,” Murugan told The Vibes.
Switching between different jobs, including working at cybercafes and cinemas, he started training muay thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) at the age of 21-year-old.
“I do want to be a professional in this field, but martial arts to me is more than a career, it’s like a lifestyle for me,” he added.
Murugan Silvarajoo is always ready to smash
Posted by Gauttam Raja Rao on Wednesday, October 7, 2020
A match is a match
One Championship is the biggest martial arts promotion in Asia, and fighters all around the world vie for a place in its cage.
While Murugan is thankful for the opportunity to fight in one of the world’s biggest stage, for him it's just another day in the ring.
“I am thankful to One Championship for the opportunity to fight in the promotion, but today’s bout is just another day, another fight.”
“I don’t want to get nervous about it,” Murugan said.
On the ground or standing up, it doesn’t matter
Murugan’s opponent tonight, Eko, holds a record of two wins and one loss in One Championship — where Eko grabbed both wins before the end of the first round by submission and technical knockout.
Trained in boxing by his father at 5-years-old, Eko has also won multiple national-level wrestling competitions in Indonesia. Thus, making him a challenge on the ground and stand-up.
But for Murugan, he is prepared for all outcomes despite pointing out that Eko’s fights were all too short to analyse for weaknesses in the Indonesian’s arsenal.
“I personally am comfortable fighting standing up or on the ground.”
“So I am prepared to wrestle, kickbox or grapple, and I expect that he would try to wrestle me,” Murugan explained.
Murugan will be making his One Championship debut in an MMA bout with Eko tonight at 8.30 pm. His training camp includes coaches from Muayfit, Richard “Notorious” Corminal and Krisada “Weet” Silatong, and he will be cornered by Chan Tze Hing. – The Vibes, October 9, 2020
