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ONE Championship: Malaysia's Merican holds no grudges vs Pinoy fighters

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/02/07/020717_one.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Malaysian MMA fighter Saiful Merican, who will face Burn Soriano of the Philippines on February 10. Handout photo</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Malaysian standout Saiful &quot;The Vampire&quot; Merican will face another exciting Filipino fighter when he makes his much-awaited return to ONE Championship on February 10, as he is set to lock horns with Burn Soriano in a three-round bantamweight match.Merican, who will be making his bantamweight debut against &quot;The Hitman,&quot; is coming off a loss to Team Lakay&#x27;s Geje Eustaquio in January 2016, where he was knocked out in the very first round.Though he has a chance to settle the score with another Filipino fighter in his comeback bout, the 28-year-old Malaysian stalwart insists he is not out to avenge his loss to Eustaquio against Soriano.&quot;It&#x27;s not personal,&quot; said Merican. &quot;This is purely business against Burn Soriano. I hold no grudges, win or lose. At the end of the day, it&#x27;s a sport.&quot;The Soriano-Merican bout is one of the featured attractions at ONE: Throne of Tigers, which takes place in the Stadium Negara in Merican&#x27;s hometown of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/mma/news/2017/02/06/one-fighter-casey-suire-dies-motorcycle-accident-21479">READ: ONE fighter Casey Suire dies in motorcycle accident</a></li></ul>Merican is looking forward to returning to the win column against Soriano, but he knows it will not be easy.&quot;I&#x27;ve been out for over a year,&quot; he pointed out. &quot;I&#x27;m so eager to bounce back and get this win.&quot;&quot;But I know this will not be easy, because I have a tough foe in front of me,&quot; he added.Soriano is coming off a highlight-reel win over Indonesia&#x27;s Mario Sitya Wirawan, whom he defeated in just 15 seconds, thanks to a spectacular spinning backfist.With a professional mixed martial arts record of 3-2, Soriano is looking to continue his winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage.&quot;Soriano is well-rounded,&quot; Merican observed. &quot;He can fight standing up. He can also fight on the guard. That&#x27;s why I am doing some extra work in both aspects.&quot;&quot;I won&#x27;t let him have the leverage, whether it&#x27;s in striking or grappling,&quot; he vowed.Moreover, Merican believes he has the upper hand when it comes to a stand-up game against Soriano.&quot;I know he will come to fight and strike with me, but I am confident that I will prevail if he wants to stand and bang,&quot; said Merican, who believes his extensive Muay Thai background gives him the edge in that aspect of the game.&quot;For sure, it will be a good fight,&quot; he further guaranteed. &quot;It will not go into the three judges&#x27; hands for a decision. It will have a decisive finish.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

Malaysian standout Saiful "The Vampire" Merican will face another exciting Filipino fighter when he makes his much-awaited return to ONE Championship on February 10, as he is set to lock horns with Burn Soriano in a three-round bantamweight match.

Malaysian standout Saiful "The Vampire" Merican will face another exciting Filipino fighter when he makes his much-awaited return to ONE Championship on February 10, as he is set to lock horns with Burn Soriano in a three-round bantamweight match.