Isi Fitikefu seeks finish against undefeated Chase Mann at ONE Fight Night 39

Isi Fitikefu doesn’t care about unblemished records. The Australian-Tongan welterweight has seen perfect slates get shattered before.

The 33-year-old meets undefeated American newcomer Chase Mann in welterweight MMA at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. The event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Amazon Prime Video.

Fitikefu enters riding a two-fight winning streak after rebounding from a narrow split-decision loss to Ruslan Emilbek Uulu in his promotional debut. He submitted Valmir Da Silva with a first-round rear-naked choke in April 2023. Then he stopped Hiroyuki Tetsuka’s five-fight winning streak at ONE 168: Denver last September.

Mann brings a spotless 6-0 professional record into his promotional debut. The 29-year-old American has finished opponents every way possible across his regional run. But the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Smeaton Grange representative sees a massive experience gap that numbers can’t capture.

“I really just train in my own style. I don’t train according to his style or someone else’s style. I’m doing what I can do within my control,” he said. “No disrespect to the guy, but I believe there are levels to this game. I’m not disrespecting him. I don’t know what he’s done, but I feel like I’m a level above him.”

Isi Fitikefu predicts decisive finish over Chase Mann

Isi Fitikefu has built his reputation on relentless pressure from the opening bell and applies constant pace that forces opponents into mistakes they wouldn’t normally make.

That suffocating approach has served him well throughout his career. Six of his nine professional victories have come via stoppage. The BJJ black belt knows how to overwhelm adversaries with intensity that doesn’t let up across three rounds.

Mann’s inspirational journey to ONE Championship resonates throughout the MMA community. The American overcame a difficult childhood marked by his parents’ struggles with drug addiction to forge a career in mixed martial arts. That toughness carried him to six consecutive victories without tasting defeat.

But Fitikefu approaches every battle with the same mentality regardless of opponent background or undefeated status. Perfect records mean nothing once the bell rings and reality sets in.

“I don’t care if he’s undefeated or if he has 1,000 or 600 fights. I prepare the same as I always prepare. It doesn’t matter if it’s a World Title fight or a normal fight. If you’re in my way, I’m getting past you. I always train like a maniac, and it’s the same for this fight,” he said.

“I love to bring the heat. And if he doesn’t like the heat, then get out of the kitchen. I’m coming to bring the fight to him. I like my style because that’s how I fight. If you don’t want to be there, man, good luck. The only way you’re going to get out of there is if I finish you.

“I’ll be going all out, hunting, attacking, and doing everything I can until I finish him. Could be round one, could be round three. I don’t know which one it is, I don’t know. Could be a knockout or a submission. But one thing’s guaranteed: I’m finishing him.”