TWO former ONE Championship world champions believe the protagonist in the main event of “Pinnacle of Power” set in Macau tonight will bring out their “A” game in a bid to unify the flyweight world title.

Reigning champion Adriano Moraes and interim titlist Geje Eustaquio will clash in the main event as the unify the 61-kilogram (kg) weight class.

Khairat Akhmetov, who has faced both fighters said Eustaquio is a strong fighter with great striking, superb kicks and impressive endurance, but Moraes is more experienced and versatile and can easily go from stand-up to the ground.

“I think Moraes will remain the world champion. Any fighter has a chance to win because that is life. If Eustaquio trains hard and manages to stop Moraes from bringing the fight to the ground, he has a chance of winning,” Akhmetov said.

The 30-year-old has twice faced each of the two world champions in high-stakes match-ups and experienced similar returns.

In his promotional debut in November 2015, he beat Moraes via split decision to claim the ONE flyweight world championship.

In the rematch last August, the Kazakhstani fell to “Mikinho” via unanimous decision. He lost the belt and experienced the first professional defeat of his career.

Akhmetov kick-started his journey back to the gold just over a month later, as he edged out Eustaquio – also via split decision – in their three-round clash.

The contest was so close, a rematch was ordered for January. This time, the ONE interim flyweight world title was up for grabs, but “The Kazakh” was unable to capitalize on his golden opportunity, and lost via unanimous decision.

Eduard Folayang, Geje's teammate at Team Lakay and the former lighweight world champion, believes Eustaquio has what it takes to defeat Moraes.

“The biggest difference this time around is Geje’s mindset. Now more than ever, Geje believes in himself and his team, and he has that unwavering faith in God. It is not going to be easy and Adriano has prepared equally as much, but I think it is Geje’s time to claim the gold,” said Folayang.

Folayang added Eustaquio has matured as a fighter and a more complete martial artist.

“Combining skill and veteran experience – that is when you hit your peak. He has improved so much — especially his wrestling and ground game, which we all worked very hard on for the past few years. Geje really enjoys grappling. I think he loves the science of it, and learning the different techniques,” he adds.

During their face off in Macao, Moraes said Eustaquio is coming with his best, and it is only proper to give him the best performance as well and promises a showdown between two top-level martial artists.

“This Saturday night, I am facing a great warrior in Geje Eustaquio, a man whom I respect as a person and as a competitor in this sport. He is coming with his best, and it is only proper to give him my best performance as well. This is going to be a showdown between two top-level martial artists. May the best man win,” the Brazillian champion quips.

Eustaquio meanwhile said Moraes is one of the fighters he look up to and believes his time is now to unify the flyweight crown.

“There can only be one ONE flyweight world champion, and by the end of the night, I am confident my hand will be raised in victory. This belt is important to me because it symbolizes all the hard work I have put in over the years to get to this point -- all the sacrifices we have made as a team, all the progression,” Eustaquio added. (Roderick Osis )