MIXED martial arts (MMA) never stops. Or at least it seems that way with Singapore-based mixed martial arts organization ONE Championship.
Still in the thick of the action with its ONE: Next Gen series, where proud Igorot warrior Lito Adiwang is set to face brash and supremely confident Jared “The Monkey God” Brooks on Friday, November 26, ONE is already uncorking an exciting event that will feature not one, not two, not three, but four Team Lakay warriors in one night. It’s called ONE: Winter Warriors II.
To be recorded live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the first week of December, the world will see this event that is much-awaited by Lakay fans and Filipino MMA enthusiasts on December 17.
Pinoy MMA superstars Kevin “The Silencer “Belingon” and Danny “The King” Kingad are making their respective comebacks in the ONE Circle. Young Lakay warriors Stephen Loman and Jhanlo Sangiao are going to have their baptism of fireworks in ONE.
Former undisputed ONE bantamweight world champion Belingon last saw action in October 2020 against hard-hitting Brazilian John Lineker. Lineker took out Belingon in that one with a second-round stoppage, starting with a crunchy left jab, followed by a right uppercut and more punishing lefts to end it all at the 1:16 mark.
Since then the fast and ferocious Belingon—former undisputed ONE bantamweight world champion—has not seen action. But this time he’s back and still ranked No. 2 in the same division. He will face South Korea’s “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il, a dangerous striker who scored a first-round knockout on Indonesian star Anthony Engelen when he debuted in the circle. It will be striker vs. striker, and the action is expected to be furious. (“It may be bloody,” cautioned Coach Mark Sangiao in a media availability of the four Lakay.)
Also making his comeback in ONE is former ONE flyweight world title challenger and current No. 2-ranked flyweight Danny Kingad. Last seen inside the Circle in January 2020, Kingad’s last fight was against Chinese heavy-hitter Xie Wei, called “The Hunter” in ONE: Fire and Fury. Kingad showed why he’s called “The King” after applying superior grappling skills to the Chinese striker.
In Winter Warriors Kingad will face former flyweight king Kairat Akhmetov of Kazahkstan, now fourth-ranked flyweight and a Graeco-Roman wrestling expert. Kingad has long been waiting for this opportunity. If he wins, he could well be up for another challenger role in the division. As No. 2, who else is there to fight but No.1?
MMA fans, however, are hardly breathing until they see the two new Lakay lads put on their show inside the Circle, even as they avidly cheer on vets Kingad and Belingon in their respective battles..
Former bantamweight champion Stephen Loman (14-2), nicknamed “The Sniper” is a young gun in his prime. Playing in the Middle East in Brave, he beat Gurdashan “Saint Lion” Mangal to win the Brave CF Bantamweight Championship in Bahrain in 2017 and succeeded at defending it four times. Now after a long wait, Loman’s promotional debut in ONE is finally here and his first assignment is No. 3-ranked Russian bantamweight Yusup Saadulaev, a dangerous grappler.
Loman is confident he will fare well playing Saadulaev’s game. “I want to take my opponents down,” he says, departing from the prevailing image of Lakay fighters as expert strikers whose weak spot is their ground game. Loman believes he can do the grind on the ground as well if not better than the next man “I can take my opponents down, I also have my defense and offense in wrestling. I am confident about my basic knowledge on the ground.”
He has always wanted to go up against the contenders,” he says, “so I can test and also showcase my skills.” I am confident about my skills,” he adds, showing the confidence and desire to unleash his warrior spirit on the global stage. “I have been looking forward to this (first fight) for a long, long time.”
Also in the Winter Warriors mix is the son of Team Lakay Head Coach Mark Sangiao: 19-year old Jhanlo Sangiao, dubbed “The Machine” (or “The Little Machine”) after his father who bannered the same name for his relentless, meticulous and no-retreat, no-surrender style of fighting during his active days as an athlete.
The youngest Lakay will face Indonesian Paul “The Great King” Lumihi. The former featherweight champ, steeped in kung fu, taekwondo, wishu and Muay Thai skills doesn’t faze the eager young warrior though. All set up and ready to go, the younger Sangiao admits he is a bit kinakabahan. “But this is something I have long waited for and something I have trained for ever since I was little. So I am very, very excited.”
“We are the new breed of Lakay,” he explains. “We will do our best to show you what we’ve been working hard on. We’re not just strikers. We have sharpened our skills and know other fighting styles like jiujitsu, for one.”
He has studied his opponent, he says, and seen that he is weak in his ground game. “I’m just so eager to show what I know, and I believe that up or down, kaya ko siya.” But I am not underestimating him.”
“Our warriors will be going up against a handful of very tough opponents, so it’s not going to be easy. Rest assured that we are working double time in the gym to produce a favorable outcome. Through our hard work and dedication, we will triumph,” said Jhanlo’s father Mark Sangiao.
Jhanlo chimes in exuberantly from the background. “Please support our fight,” he tells all the Filipino fans out there. “Watch out because Team Lakay will win,” he adds with brimming, youthful confidence.