In a historic displaying, two-time Budo Sento Muay Thai champion, Veronica “La Peligrosa” Rodriguez, opens up about her historic debut and shokcing wing on the 2026 K-1 World Grand Prix, through which she would rating a stunning upset over the reigning champion Kira Matsutani through which she would defeat her in an exhilarating back-and-forth struggle. That Veronica Rodriguez would drop her with a clinch overhand, clinching the struggle from the Japanese champion.
Veronica Rodriguez talks getting a title shot in japan
One of the crucial infatuating issues concerning the storyline main as much as Veronica Rodriguez’s placing battle towards the 22-year-old phenom Kira Matsutani was the way in which her alternative manifested, with the Mexican striker saying she received it in Colombia, of all locations. She stated the next concerning that.
“This chance was given to me in Colombia. I went to struggle in Colombia final 12 months in a league known as Excessive Putting, which can also be a small-glove modality, identical to Budo is. I fought a Brazilian woman ….After I received in Colombia, they linked us with Okay-1 and properly, actually, I didn’t waste that chance, I ready tremendous properly. I feel that for each Muay Thai fighter in this type of martial artwork that’s placing and kickboxing, making it to a league like Okay-1 is a dream. It’s like making it to ONE Championship too, which for me can also be my aim, to have the ability to share the honour of combating in ONE Championship. For me, attending to Okay-1 was a really massive step, I took an enormous leap. And proper now, crowning myself because the 45 kg champion, properly, you may’t think about, I don’t know the way to specific the emotion I really feel inside at this second.“
Rodriguez additionally spoke about how the stunning and thrilling alternative, particularly given the transition from Muay Thai to kickboxing, would change her strategy in her struggle camp and general coaching depth.
Effectively, the very first thing that got here to our minds is that it was going to be a very troublesome problem for us, however that we had been going to point out not solely the individuals of Mexico, however internationally, that we may additionally do it, that it is usually attainable for us to get all the way in which over there and do a fantastic job. And properly, that’s all we did…I feel I ready tremendous properly and we knew we weren’t going into something simple, we didn’t have it simple in any respect. It’s a problem, it’s a troublesome and hard state of affairs for us, however we’re going to face one of the best, and to get to the place we wish to be now we have to struggle one of the best. And our time is now
On dealing with the distinctive Japanese kickboxing model, recognized to many because the “J-Kick” model, employed by prime Japanese strikers comparable to Yuki Yoza and Takeru Segawa. Kira Matsutani was no totally different together with her boxing-heavy model and efficient karate kicks. Veronica Rodriguez opened up about dealing with that distinctive model for the primary time and overcoming the tough model of the Japanese Karatekas.
“There’s a massive conflict of kinds. I feel Muay Thai is characterised in some ways. I’ve at all times stated that my Muay Thai is like explosive. There are others which can be extra technical, many very conventional ones. However I feel that with Kira it was a kickboxing model very very like Taekwondo, very very like Karate; her stance was very sideways. I feel it was a conflict of kinds due to that, as a result of I field extra, my stance is extra of a boxing stance, and hers was extra about kicking.“
“So it was like that conflict of: she kicked me, I boxed her, after which I kicked her and she or he tried to field me. I feel it was a complete struggle of kinds. Like I say, she comes very a lot from Karate, from Taekwondo; I come extra from boxing. However I appreciated it, actually, it was a struggle the place I had a variety of enjoyable. She let me work, I let her work, and I feel the individuals had a variety of enjoyable with that struggle.”
The defining strike of the struggle was Veronica Rodriguez’s overhand proper, which dropped Matsutani and received her the struggle decisively. The brand new champ opened up about how she and her crew educated for that particular second in her camp.
“The factor is, we practiced that punch lots with my crew on the exits; it was that once we spun out we’d catch her with the hooks. We labored that punch lots, however when it occurred, actually I stated “if the struggle was shut, this get’s me the win“. I imply, it was an additional level, the spherical was about to finish, she needed to knock me out to have the ability to beat me for that time.“
And eventually, the brand new Okay-1 champion would shut out on a optimistic observe: the longer term appears brilliant not only for Mexican placing arts however for all Latin American strikers and the remainder of North Individuals. As her onerous work and dedication appear to be driving her to new heights, she maintains her Okay-1 championship and retains the highs in her profession.
“Effectively, to continue to grow. Continue to grow, however nonetheless holding my ft very properly planted on the bottom. I do know we reached a really massive firm, however we aren’t one of the best but, as a result of if we had been one of the best we’d be elsewhere. We now have to maintain enhancing, now we have to maintain working onerous and centered, not shedding, as I say, our ft from the bottom, however sure to develop, continue to grow in all the pieces, within the work setting, enhancing in all elements. And properly, let no matter has to come back, come, the fights that need to comply with, the challenges which have to come back. We’re going to maintain working onerous, we’re going to go for all our desires, for all our targets and hold crowning the world in all of the locations they invite us and wherever God places us.“
Along with her never-say-die angle, Mexican grit, and need to proceed trailblazing and galvanizing Mexican audiences and fellow athletes. The New Okay-1 champion, Veronica Rodriguez, appears to be like to stay on prime and hold her optimistic angle alongside the way in which.
