Knee injury forces Lito Adiwang to drop out of ONE Championship fight

Lito Adiwang

We will have to wait for the Thunder Kid's return a little bit longer.

ONE Championship announced on Wednesday that Lito Adiwang is withdrawing from his upcoming matchup against Masnur Malachiev.

The match had been slated to be a part of the card for ONE Fight Night 6, set to take place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on January 14.

The Filipino shared that the knee pain has been getting worse during his preparations for the fight, and was advised by doctors to check for medical attention and rest for sixty days. He shares, "It’s heartbreaking that I have to break a promise to my father to fight this January. Also [sorry] to our fans and supporters who are eager and excited to watch me back in action."

Lito adds, "My mind is 1000 percent ready to go to war but suddenly, my knee is not cooperating and it’s getting worse when I try to push it hard for training. As per the advice of my doctor, I’ll give it some time to recover and continue my therapy to strengthen it."

Adiwang tore his ACL against Jeremy Miado last March during ONE X, then undergoing surgery a couple of months later.

What followed is a long rehabilitation process, with the objective of getting the injured knee strengthened. It had been all systems go, until the pain started to bother Adiwang, thus the need to have it checked with physicians, which led to the decision to drop out of the fight.

Although disappointed, Lito chooses to view things half-full. "It’s heartbreaking to withdraw but I need to think for the best and look at the big picture. I may not fulfill my promise this time, but this made me focus to the bigger promise that I gave to both of my parents that one day I will become a World Champion," he says.

Lito also has this message to convey, "To ONE Championship, my opponent, fans and supporters, I’m sorry that I will not be able to compete this January in Bangkok but I will do my best to heal and recover as fast as I can and continue this fight. I’ll enter the Circle healthy and prepared to give the best show that I can give."