Danial Williams Recognizes Importance Of Winning Over Former Ranked Contender

Danial Williams is eager to continue his rise towards the upper echelon of ONE Championship's strawweight mixed martial arts (MMA) division.

The 29-year-old resident of Perth, Australia is set to return to action against Filipino spitfire Jeremy Miado on the undercard of ONE on Prime Video 3, which takes place at the 16,000-seater Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the morning of October 22 (October 21 in the United States).

Rated No. 5 in both strawweight MMA and Muay Thai divisions of the promotion, Williams knows that a victory over a fellow dynamic competitor would cement him as a threat in both sports.

"We're in the same boat. There's a lot on the line for both of us, and this is why this one is going to be a banger on Prime Video," he said in a recent interview.

2022 is shaping up to be a banner year for "Mini T," who has already figured in three high-octane MMA encounters and won all of them in enthralling fashion.

His campaign this year began with an upset victory over Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke last February, knocking out the former ONE strawweight champion in the second round.

Williams followed it up with a hotly-contested tussle versus Namiki Kawahara in April, where he had to dig deep into his arsenal to walk away with the razor-thin unanimous decision.

This past July, he earned a spot in the Top Five of the weight class by knocking out Zelang Zhaxi with a solid right hand in the opening frame of their clash.

Like Williams, Miado has also aced his last three assignments under the organization's banner, including his galvanizing back-to-back knockouts of Chinese rival Miao Li Tao.

Miado attained the biggest win of his professional career yet last March, prevailing over Team Lakay's Lito Adiwang by way of injury stoppage.

As a result of his win against Adiwang, "The Jaguar" forced his way into the rankings. However, his tenure didn't last that long as Gustavo Balart's unanimous decision victory over Yosuke Saruta booted him off the elite list.

Williams understands that his upcoming feud with Miado entails serious implications.

"I was happy with this matchup as soon as it was thrown to me. I didn't even take two seconds to think twice about it," he stated.

"Me [fighting] Miado makes total sense. He's on the same brink as I am. He was in the Top Five a few months ago. Now I stole it, so a win for both of us here is pivotal."

Although both men own a phenomenal catalog of finishes, Williams believes that he is miles ahead in terms of striking and plans on exposing that disparity when they go head-to-head.

"Miado comes in hard, so I'm definitely going to tuck my chin in because I'm well aware of his KO power. I'm not going to take too many risks when it comes to brawling with him," he shared.

"But I believe my power, speed, angles, and mobility will be my advantages against him. And I just feel that I'm going to be a little bit difficult for him because he's never really fought a striker who can move like me," Williams continued.

"He's a bit linear, straight-lined, and can be predictable with his shots. That'll be his weakness that I want to exploit with my movement."

With the bout airing live in U.S. primetime on Amazon Prime Video, Williams views their matchup as the perfect time to showcase himself again in front of an audience who first got acquainted with him through the gallant effort he put up against Rodtang Jitmuangnon in their April 2021 Muay Thai tiff.

Despite his confidence in his abilities, Williams acknowledged that Miado is the right dance partner to catapult him to the next level.

"I love Jeremy Miado as a fighter. He's exciting to watch, he's got some good wins behind him against some really notable opponents. So, I'm not taking him lightly at all. He's a good challenge," he mentioned.

"He's a former ranked guy for a reason, and I believe he's better than anyone I've ever faced in MMA in ONE. I really look up to him."

For his prediction, Williams is certain that the three judges at cageside will no longer be needed to decide on the outcome.

"Someone's definitely getting stopped here, but it's not going to be me. It doesn't matter when it comes. All that matters is that I go there and get the finish," he warned.