Winning the ONE bantamweight MMA world championship was more than personal glory for Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu of Mongolia. The 37-year-old also treats it as a responsibility to influence and be a role model for the next generation of warriors in his country.

Baatarkhuu has come a long way from being a hidden gem to a worldwide phenomenon.

‘The Tormentor’ became an instant fan favorite at Netflix’s hit reality show Physical: Asia, where he displayed feats of superhuman strength and remarkable leadership.

The Road To ONE: Mongolia winner’s incredible journey was capped off when he claimed 26 pounds of gold by defeating Fabricio Andrade in an epic war last December.

Baatarkhuu has embraced his role as a symbol of Mongolian pride and wants to pay it forward by influencing the youth.

He told ONE Championship in an exclusive interview:

“I believe showing this message and expressing this message to the youth – of how the ancient Mongolian people were so strong – is good for the younger generation. It’s good to know our history.”

For the champion, competing on the world’s largest martial arts organization is a privilege of a lifetime, and he sees it as his duty to make sure the future of combat sports remains bright in Mongolia.

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu reflects on how his life changed overnight

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu came to ONE Championship with a vision and a dream.

The Mongolian powerhouse worked tirelessly to achieve his goals and is now reaping the rewards of his persistence.

The bantamweight MMA world champion told ONE:

“I quit my job because I won the Road To ONE Show in 2022. Then, I signed a contract with ONE Championship, and I started competing in ONE in April 2023. I couldn’t participate in the main cards yet, I needed to fight in some ONE Friday Fights shows to prove that I can grow my skills as a fighter. And that’s how I eventually ended up being part of the bigger cards.”