PART of ONE Championship since its inception early this decade, Team Lakay has seen the organization grow by leaps and bounds across the board. And now that Asia’s largest sports media property has further upped its stock with the arrival of high-profile athletes from other groups, the champion Baguio-based gym, too, welcomes the development and is very happy and excited about it.
In what many consider as a coup for the group, ONE Championship recently got hold of former world champions Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, previously of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mr. Alvarez signed with ONE after being left unsigned by the UFC while Mr. Johnson came by way of a “trade” with the UFC in exchange for undefeated world welterweight champion Ben “Funky” Askren.
Later, former UFC women’s champion Miesha Tate also came on board as ONE’s vice-president with reports still rife of more high-profile signings moving forward.
Speaking to BusinessWorld at the recent Global Martial Arts Awards in Singapore, Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao shared that like those in ONE and fans in this part of the world, they are happy and excited as well with the arrival of these mixed martial arts legends in Asia.
“We’re positive and happy with the arrival of these legends in ONE Championship. We view it as a sign that globally ONE is being competitive and attractive now. We can only improve with them here,” said Mr. Sangiao, who incidentally was named coach of the year in the martial arts awards while his Team Lakay was hailed as gym of the year.
The coach though pointed out that along with the coming of these legends, they and the rest of the field must shape up to keep in step.
“But, of course, we have to make adjustments with them here now. Our athletes must push themselves in honing their skills and show what they can do to the rest of the world,” Mr. Sangiao said.
Fighting in the lightweight and flyweight divisions, Messrs. Alvarez and Johnson are in line to collide with Team Lakay stalwarts like Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio and Danny “The King” Kingad.
Mr. Sangiao said it something they have looked into and recognize as presenting a tough challenge. But he said his team will be ready for them when fight time comes.
Team Lakay will be part of ONE’s Manila event “Conquest of Champions” on Nov. 23 with Mr. Folayang looking to regain the lightweight title against Singaporean Amir Khan.
Mr. Banario is also set to see action against Korean Dae Sung Park.
Headlining Conquest of Champions at the Mall of Asia Arena is the world heavyweight championship clash between reigning champ Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines and Italian challenger Mauro Cerelli. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
