“I would love to knock her out” - Lea Bivins plans to make a statement win over Noelle Grandjean

Lea Bivins’ highly-anticipated ONE debut may have been delayed, but she’s out to prove that she’s worth the wait.

On Friday in US primetime, the 20-year-old prodigy will take on fellow promotional newcomer Noelle Grandjean in a battle of women’s atomweight prospects. The bout will take place on the lead card of ONE on Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

‘First Moon’ was supposed to begin her journey inside the circle against Zeba Bano at ONE 159 this past July. However, disaster struck at the last minute after her Indian opponent failed to make weight and withdrew from the match altogether.

This left her without a suitable dance partner, meaning she was pulled off the card as well. Although devastated by the wasted opportunity, Bivins just went back to the gym to fine-tune her skills and patiently waited for her next chance.

Now, the House of Moons fighter will finally get to strut her stuff on the global stage against a worthy foe. In an interview with Tom Taylor of the South China Morning Post, Lea Bivins could not hold back her excitement for her first professional fight:

“It’s gonna be amazing. I’ve been waiting for it for months, and it didn’t get to happen so that was kind of a setback. But I believe everything happens for a reason, so maybe I wasn’t meant to go in there and fight that night. So [now] I’m excited to go in there and test myself against Noelle.”

Lea Bivins, who hails from Sacramento, California, has shifted her attention to mixed martial arts after dabbling in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, pankration, and wrestling in her amateur days.

However, her debut won’t be a walk in the part since she's now paired against a much tougher opponent. Grandjean, after all, is a decorated striker who trains out of Thailand's famed Tiger Muay Thai gym.

With that said, Bivins remains confident in her abilities and won’t back down from the daunting task at hand. She added:

“I would love to knock her out because of the Tiger Muay Thai and MMA standup thing, I would love to get that under my belt. But getting my hand raised is the goal. So whatever it takes, at this point.”

Watch Lea Bivins’ full SCMP MMA interview below:

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Lea Bivins says her grappling will be key to victory

While Grandjean’s Muay Thai and Judo credentials are quite impressive, Lea Bivins believes her superior ground skills will get the job done.

In the same interview, ‘First Moon’ told fans what to expect from her at ONE on Prime Video 3.

“I would definitely say my jiu-jitsu and grappling is one of my best skills, if not the best skill. I’m a purple belt so I do hold that. I’ve wrestled for years, I have all-Americans, multiple state champion in California for wrestling, so obviously my wrestling is another great aspect. To be able to get them to the ground fast and to finish faster for me is very good for me.”

Apart from the world-class training she receives from her home gym, Bivins has also worked with the iconic Lee family at United MMA in Hawaii. Bivins has forged a strong bond with former youth pankration teammate and now fellow ONE athlete Victoria Lee.

If Lea Bivins displays the same ferocity as the Lee sisters in her debut, then Noelle Grandjean might just be in for a long night.