Vero Seeks Championship Destiny Through Shir Cohen At ONE Friday Fights 143
The path from Myanmar farm fields to championship contention requires more than devastating punches and powerful kicks. It demands recalibration after setbacks, adaptations to smaller gloves that punish hesitation, and the clarity to recognize when someone standing between you and gold must be removed.
Friday, February 20, at ONE Friday Fights 143 inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, Vero steps into her first main event assignment knowing exactly what defeating Shir Cohen represents — validation that she belongs in title conversations, proof that heavier hands overcome technical polish when stakes matter most.
“I came here to become a champion. And for everyone in Myanmar who believes in me, this Friday I will show the best version of myself,” the 29-year-old declared. “I don’t care about pain. I’m ready.”
Ready means different things after February 2025’s split decision loss to Francisca Vera taught harsh lessons about ONE’s 4-ounce Muay Thai format. The smaller gloves reward sharper focus, punish hesitation, and expose fighters who haven’t fully adapted from lethwei’s bare-knuckle brutality. Vero responded by stopping Junior Fairtex via first-round TKO at ONE Friday Fights 107, then edging Li Mingrui by split decision at ONE Friday Fights 132 to build the two-fight streak that earned this main event opportunity.
But winning doesn’t equal championship readiness. Cohen arrived in ONE with credentials — Road to ONE champion, 3-0 promotional record, technical polish built through kickboxing fundamentals that create problems for brawlers who rely solely on power. She was scheduled to challenge for the atomweight Muay Thai crown at ONE Fight Night 29 before injury derailed those plans, and this matchup determines whether she reclaims that trajectory or Vero steals it.
“One year ago, she was scheduled to fight for the title. She’s very experienced,” Vero noted. “If I beat her, I should get a title shot too. She’s been here longer than me. Passing her is a very important test.”
Passing her requires exploiting specific vulnerabilities that Vero identified through extensive study. Cohen’s kickboxing-leaning style features excellent punching fundamentals, speed, and intelligent movement. But there are cracks in technical perfection.
“Her style leans toward kickboxing. Her punching fundamentals are very good. Her Muay Thai is good too, but I think she stands out more in kickboxing,” Vero analyzed. “She’s fast and she fights smart. But I believe I have heavier hands and stronger impact. I think she’s not as strong in the clinch. When she punches, sometimes she walks forward too much. If she meets someone who fights smart and intercepts well, that could be a problem. That’s what I think. I’ve studied how to deal with her.”
Heavier hands. Stronger clinch. Better interception. Those advantages only matter if Vero executes the gameplan rather than reverts to reckless aggression that plays into Cohen’s technical countering.
“My plan is to fight smart. I want to be a fighter who uses her brain, not just rush forward,” Vero explained. “I want to be relaxed but heavy. If there’s a chance to knock her out, I’ll wait for the moment and finish it. I want to win by knockout or by clear decision. If I win by knockout, I hope I can fight for the title next.”
The calculation is simple — Cohen represents the final step between Myanmar’s Kayan Leopard and championship gold. Not just career advancement, but national validation for a country watching its first female ONE athlete navigate the journey from obscurity to contention. The pressure carries weight beyond personal ambition.
“This Friday is very important for me. It’s my first time fighting in the main event. It’s important for me and for Myanmar,” Vero said. “Please support me even more.”
READ MORE: Sean Strickland Promises Knockout Finish of Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston Showdown
Recent posts
