Trinidad seeks win to redeem failed debut

MANILA, Philippines — Model-turned-Filipina fighter Rome Trinidad hopes to bounce back from her failed ONE Championship debut with a victory this weekend as she slugs it out with Indonesian Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol in the undercard of ONE: Grit and Glory on May 12 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Trinidad, who has temporarily set aside her modeling career to focus on her mixed martial arts training, dropped her first ONE fight to Thai Rika Ishige in ONE: Warriors of the World in Bangkok, Thailand last December.

Trinidad has recently tapped former ONE bantamweight campaigner Andrew Benibe as coach and trainer as she tries to improve in time for her next fight.

“I believe that I could have done better (against Ishige), but I came up short,” said Trinidad, whose forte is Sikaran, a homegrown martial art that involves hand and mostly foot fighting. “I also realized that there was something missing.”

Benibe, a former Phl bantamweight champion who has fought a total of 17 MMA fights since 2006, sees a lot of promise in his new ward.

“We have trained her for both stand up and grappling in anticipation of anything. With her attitude, I see her going places,” said Benibe.

“Right now, I have a tremendous support system in my training, especially with the help of my coach Andrew (Benibe). He knows how to bring out the best in me,” said Trinidad.

But she will have her hands full against Gaol, who is coming off two straight victories – one against Malaysia’s Audrey Boniface via first round stoppage and another over another Filipina neophyte Krisna Limbaga.

But the 21-year-old Marikina City native remains unfazed by her rival’s credentials.

“I want to win so bad. I have dreams and aspirations as a competitor. But in order to turn it into reality, I have to win first and this is the first step,” said Trinidad.