The path from crying kid to ONE Championship warrior rarely runs smooth, but Isaiah Badato’s journey proves that sometimes the best fighters are forged in the fires of self-doubt. The 21-year-old Australian steps into the lion’s den at Lumpinee Stadium this Friday for his ONE Championship debut against Japan’s Retsu Sashida in flyweight kickboxing action.
Isaiah Badato ONE Championship Journey Begins
Born into combat royalty as the son of Reinhardt ‘Bad Ass’ Badato – a world-renowned Muay Thai champion with 52 fights and countless belts – young Isaiah should have been a natural. Instead, the chunky, shy youngster spent his early years sobbing through training sessions at his father’s gym.
“To be honest, I didn’t really like it,” Badato admits. “I was a really shy, chubby little kid and I had to be at the gym training every day. All of the other kids were better than me, even though I was supposed to be good because it was my dad’s gym. I just remember always crying and feeling like I didn’t want to be there.”
However, something clicked during his teenage years when playground bullies pushed the wrong buttons. That’s when the Badato fighting gene finally awakened.
From Bullied Kid to Championship Contender
“Things began changing during the identity crises in high school a lot of kids go through,” he explains. “You know, the boys would kind of pick on me and it got to the points when I thought ‘stuff that’, and that’s when it all kicked in and I realised I could fight.”
Moreover, this transformation wasn’t just mental. The three-time Australian champion shed the baby fat, packed on muscle, and discovered the killer instinct that had been dormant for years. By 15, he knew this was his calling.
Ready for the Big Stage
Now, standing on the precipice of his ONE Championship debut at ONE Friday Fights 149, Badato isn’t just excited – he’s validated. The walkout, the crowd, the bright lights – it’s everything he’s visualised.
“I’m so excited, but still confident. I’m keen to get out there and show that I belong in the big leagues,” he says. “Fighting on ONE just means that I’m now verified. I’ve been able to turn my belief into reality and follow what I love.”
Furthermore, don’t expect any trash talk from this respectful warrior. “I’m a lover, you know. I wish him all the best,” he says of opponent Sashida. “He wouldn’t be on this stage if he was just some Tuk-Tuk driver.”
The dream is crystal clear: championship gold and global recognition. From tears to titles, Isaiah Badato is ready to make his mark on the world’s biggest stage.
