Johan Estupinan, also known as “Panda Kick,” is poised to make a significant entrance into the realm of ONE Championship. The 21-year-old Muay Thai fighter is scheduled to contend Kouta Omori in a 141-pound catchweight bout at ONE Friday Fights 64.
A notable aspect of Estupinan’s background is that he is the premier Colombian athlete to affiliate with ONE Championship. Raised in Santiago de Cali within a modest household, his father operated as a taxi driver while his mother tended to domestic duties, encountering financial struggles along the way. Despite these adversities, Estupinan and his siblings remained resolute and united.
The athlete’s formative years were fraught with challenges, during which he and his twin brother Jhordan were placed in an orphanage due to their abusive father. Estupinan battled fiercely for survival, cultivating a robust fighting spirit. Thankfully, his mother secured employment and succeeded in reinstating her children in a nurturing and stable environment. Under the tutelage of his coach JC Fernandez, Estupinan flourished in the discipline of martial arts, ultimately attaining the distinction of an Amateur World Champion.
Estupinan’s distinctive mode of Muay Thai integrates elements of Cali-style salsa dancing, augmenting his kicking techniques with speed and agility. Additionally, he has innovated his own maneuvers, such as “kaio ken” and “schoner kick.” Despite portraying a formidable presence within the ring, Estupinan aspires to project his amiable and affable nature outside of competition, aiming to defy the stereotype of fighters being unapproachable and impassive.
It is evident that Johan Estupinan transcends the archetype of an average fighter, surmounting myriad obstacles to ascend to the apogee of his vocation and poised to etch an indelible impression in ONE Championship. His inaugural bout on May 24 is irrefutably one to anticipate, as he showcases his prowess and represents his Colombian heritage on the global stage.