ONE Championship flyweight star Drex “T-Rex” Zamboanga says life is going pretty good, despite being holed up in Thailand and unable to head back home to the Philippines for the holidays due to travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Zamboanga and his sister Denice, also a ONE Championship athlete, decided to stay in Bangkok when COVID-19 hit, in order to continue training with their team at Marrok Force. They have been in the country for months.

And while they had initially planned to return home for the holidays, the two will instead remain in Bangkok, at least for the rest of the year.

“All things considered, 2020 has been great. I had my first fight with ONE Championship and I was quite satisfied with the result. My training this year has gone great,” said Zamboanga.

“I’m going to spend some time here in Thailand with my sister. We have been away from our family for so long. There are only two of us here and other fighters at Marrok Force. They are all also away from home.”

Zamboanga made his ONE Championship debut last August against Thai flyweight Detchadin Srosirisuphathin.

The Filipino won via second-round rear-naked choke submission.

A former regional champion in the Philippines, Zamboanga says he is coming for the ONE Championship World Title, and that he has learned many lessons over the past 12 months training with his new team.

“I learned that in order to continue evolving as a fighter, perfecting the game plan is the key to victory. Selecting the right team is very important,” said Zamboanga.

“My goal is to become a world champion. I won’t be satisfied until I have reached that goal. I will do everything in my power to overcome any challenge that is put in front of me.”

Zamboanga, who is filling out his frame at flyweight quite well, also eyes a jump to a heavier division some time soon.

“Another goal of mine is moving up to a higher weight class,” said Zamboanga.

“I think any fighter in the bantamweight division is good. They are all great fighters. I’ve been training hard here in Thailand, and I can’t wait to get back in there and put on a good show for all the fans.”

ONE Championship returns with ONE: BIG BANG II, a previously recorded event for global broadcast on Friday, 11 December. In the main event, former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion and current #3-ranked contender Jonathan “The General” Haggerty of the United Kingdom takes on Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito of Japan.

Watch ONE: BIG BANG II this Friday, 11 December on One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT).

One Sports will air the event on a same-day delay at 9 p.m. PHT. Additionally, TV5 will air the event on a next-day delay at 11 p.m. PHT.