Hong Kong teen girl beats Japanese opponent in pro MMA debut at ONE Championship

By Hoang Nguyen September 23, 2024 | 06:14 pm PT

Hong Kong's Emily Chong, an 18-year-old student, said the Covid-19 pandemic was the reason that she decided to start sharpening her Muay Thai skills and venture into professional MMA before getting her first win.

Emily Chong is declared the winner in her professional MMA debut in ONE Friday Nights 80 at Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, on Sept. 20, 2024. Photo by Instagram/@imemilychong

In her professional debut at ONE Friday Fights 80 last week, Chong defeated Japan's Koko Ohara by decision. After the fight at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium, Chong said her victory is a result of a journey that began six years ago.

Chong, who is currently studying at the University of Hong Kong, reflected on her transition from casual training to becoming a professional Muay Thai fighter. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, she explained that her entry into martial arts started as a casual family activity.

"I started martial arts when I was 12, with my mum and sister," Chong shared. "Every Sunday, we would go to a fitness class just for fun. But then I saw fighters in action and thought, 'That's so cool, I want to be a fighter too.'"

ONE Friday Fights 80 is a special event of ONE Championship, featuring 24 Muay Thai practitioners, MMA fighters and submission grapplers with a chance to win a $10,000 contract.