I know what it feels like: Van Rooyen aims to rebound against Miado in ONE

Willie van Rooyen knew the moment he stepped into ONE Championship’s flyweight spotlight that the learning curve would be steep. His promotional debut ended with a submission loss to Avazbek Kholmirzaev last November, a setback the South African fighter has called a trial by fire that taught him more than any win could. The White Lion has kept the mindset simple: study the mistakes, sharpen the tools, and fight with intention.

Back home and deep in the gym, van Rooyen has been blunt about the must-win nature of his next appearance. He’s focused on closing gaps in his defense, tightening transitions, and bringing more volume to weigh against his challenger. The plan, coaches say, is to convert the tough lesson from his first fight into a tangible ascent up ONE’s flyweight ladder.

His March 13 showdown against Jeremy Miado could be the launching pad he needs in ONE Championship. Miado, a tested veteran in the flyweight division, represents a meaningful obstacle, but van Rooyen insists this is exactly the kind of test that defines a rising fighter. The bout has fans buzzing about whether the South African can rebound from the setback, show patience under pressure, and demonstrate that he belongs among the division’s emerging contenders.

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