Jake Peacock ready for biggest test of his career against Suakim in Japan at ONE 173

Editorial Team

Jake Peacock has turned heads by overcoming the odds to become a professional fighter with one arm, but he is so much more than that.

The Canadian Muay Thai sensation has the heart, gas tank, and of course the skills to stand toe-to-toe with anyone in his division in ONE Championship.

I'm a bad man and I'm bringing a gunfight to the land of the rising sun.

His self-belief will be tested on Saturday, November 15th at ONE 173 in Japan, when he takes on former three-division Lumpinee Stadium champion Suakim Sor.Jor.Tongprajin.

"I am not taking this lightly. It's the biggest test, the most experienced opponent. I have a lot of respect for him and his team. So I've been pushing myself in every way, shape and form."

Ironically, Jake got here by beating two Japanese fighters in his first two fights with ONE Championship, but now he is on his way to Japan to fight a Thai.

"Well, it's completely different style, the Japanese to the Thai style. Japanese is a little bit more kickbox-y. The way they throw their kicks is different. The rhythm and tempo is different. The pace can sometimes be different."

"All respect to Thailand and to the people of Thailand, because this is their sport. And I'm thankful to be able to compete in their sport. So I have a lot of respect for Thai people, and Thai fighters because this is their sport and they know it inside and out, and they've been doing it since they were, you know, kids. And by the time they're, you know, eleven years old, they're fighting professionally and they've got hundreds of fights under their belt. So they definitely know what they're doing, but I'm a bad man and I'm bringing a gunfight to the Far East, to the land of the rising sun."

That confidence doesn't mean nerves don't enter the picture, but Jake has achieved all he has for a reason.

"One-hundred-percent on fight day, there's nerves, and I think that's completely normal. You're about to be locked in a cage with another man and both of you are trying to knock each other out. It's a dangerous sport. It's a terrifying sport. So if you if they are some sort of nerves to some level, I think you're either clinically insane or you rate yourself too highly and your heads in the clouds."

"I think it's normal, think it's your body prepping itself for battle. But the nerves have to be in control, right? And the nerves have gotten less and less as I've gained more experience. I'm 15 pro fights in now. Early on in my pro career was more nervous for sure; now I'm very in control, I'm very confident in my capabilities and my skills. I know what I need to do to lock in. And it's just a matter of the honing the knives."

The knives are clearly honed, if his last two wins are any indication.

Peacock knows that a win over Suakim puts him exactly where he wants to be, right in the rankings and on his way to the title.

"This is a great name, Suakim's on a tear and he's been doing really well. If I beat him I hope it would put me in the rankings or at least give me a shot at the top five."

Having grown up as the son of a Chelsea footballer, Jake was perhaps more prepared for the attention being a top athlete would get him, but as he approaches the ONE Lightweight Muay Thai top-five, he still is amazed by the newfound adulation he is receiving, especially in Thailand where nak muay are true celebrities.

"In Thailand it's bonkers, man. Like, I get stopped everywhere for pictures. We were not more than 30 seconds off the plane and someone ran up to me, 'Jake Peacock, Jake Peacock, can I take a picture of you?' Took a picture of me. [Then] he said, 'I'm immigration. Follow me.' And so we grabbed all the bags and we started following."

"He took us to the Thai national entry, grabbed our passports, opened a booth up, took us to the front of the line, got us through. We were out the airport in five minutes. That was our first 30 seconds in Thailand. And ever since, it's just been nonstop wherever I go. Funny you say it, because yesterday I'm with Charlie, my son, and we're walking down the road and I get stopped and asked for a picture. And someone said they're a big fan of me. And I just looked down at Charlie and I was thinking, 'I wonder what he thinks.'"

"And then I was thinking about myself and my dad. I wonder what I was thinking at that age of my dad. And I don't think it even — it's just, you know, regular life, right?"

Jake Peacock takes on Suakim at ONE 173, live on PPV at 8pm EST on Saturday, November 15th from Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan.

Catch the full interview here.

Staff Writer