Rika “Tinydoll” Ishige refuses to rest. She already owns the distinction of being one of Thailand’s first professional female martial artists, and after making a successful debut at ONE: WARRIOR KINGDOM just two months ago, she is eager to get back into the fray.

The 28-year-old Bangkok Fight Lab product makes her return to the cage on Friday, 26 May. She will battle Indonesian atomweight prospect Nita Dea, a promotional newcomer, at ONE: DYNASTY OF HEROES, live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Dea’s position is one Ishige knows well. “Tinydoll” entered the promotion herself in March with a first-round TKO victory over Audreylaura Boniface. She emerged from the bout injury-free, and was already eyeing her next encounter.

“I want to fight. If I do not fight, I get lazy,” she jokes. "I want to fight at least every four months. That is good for me.”

The Thai’s four-month waiting time was cut in half. While resting in Korea, she received a call from ONE matchmakers about the match with Dea. The rest of Ishige’s break from competition became a working trip. She found a local gym to begin her initial preparations, before flying home to Bangkok and beginning her official training camp.

In Dea, Ishige will match up with an Indonesian prospect owning an impressive combat sports background, being an Indonesian national champion in both wrestling and wushu.

Neither competitor will own the an edge in experience, though Ishige has had the most recent stint in professional combat. Being her professional mixed martial arts debut, not much can be found on Dea, but that does not bother the Thai. “Tinydoll” does not need to worry about what her opponent might do. She knows that winning or losing rests solely on her shoulders.

"I will work hard on myself, as I do not know what her background is. There is no footage, but I will do my best,” she says. “I like to concentrate my training on myself. It does not matter about the opponent.”

Ishige also counts world-renowned trainer Master Thong among her many advantages. Thong spent many years training champions in the United States, and now as a member of the Bangkok Fight Lab, his instincts have helped guide Ishige to success too.

"He said last time I would use the half guard and win from there,” she reveals. “I said Boniface could not take me down, but she did, and I worked from the half guard to win. He told me what would happen just the night before my fight. I will tell you the plan [for this bout] afterwards. I cannot give away my secrets!”

With Thong in her corner, Ishige feels unstoppable. Whether battling someone with one or 100 fights, there is no opponent “Tinydoll” cannot conquer.

"The important thing for success is self-confidence. The key to self-confidence is preparation, and I am well prepared for this fight,” she says. “If I have good preparation, I can fight anybody.”