Jason Burgos’ Back Talk with Guest Martin Nguyen

It could be said that Thanh Le offers reigning One Championship featherweight kingpin Martin Nguyen his most dangerous opponent yet when it comes to the standup game. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance 145-pound champion’s 91-percent knockout rate, in 13 fights, is the highest by far of any other opponent the Australian has faced in his career. Yet don’t expect the “Situ-Asian” to fret much over the data. His mindset remains as it has throughout his career: He will expect the best fighter he has ever faced and will adjust like champions are supposed to.

“Every single fight, I don’t look at [opponents] as any better than anyone else. I put them at the highest of the high, this is what they’re going to come with. Obviously, they are going to come all guns blazing and it’s up to me to adjust as a fighter. That’s how I’ve been fighting my whole career. I am the champion, and this is what champions do. We adjust, we find a way to win and we have the will to win.”

As co-host on a new edition of “Back Talk,” Nguyen talked about his title defense on Oct. 30 at One Championship “Inside the Matrix” and how he kept busy during his 14-month hiatus from the sport due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 31-year-old also gave his thoughts on the promotion’s atomweight division, and champion Angela Lee not relinquishing her title during pregnancy. In addition, he answered questions from fans and gave his thoughts on Saturday’s Ultimate Fighting Championship main event between Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega.