Carlo Bumina-ang may have celebrated his 30th birthday this past March, but the festivities haven’t stopped just yet.
For this Filipino mixed martial artist, the ultimate birthday present could come as a $100,000 contract with ONE Championship.
As the Team Lakay member steps inside the ring at ONE Friday Fights 65 on May 31, he is poised to seize this opportunity and potentially alter the trajectory of his professional career.
“I think I’m ready to get to the next level. So it’s important for me to win my next fight,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
The stage is set at the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where “The Bull” locks horns against Russia’s Chayan Oorzhak in a three-round bantamweight MMA showdown
Bumina-ang has been nothing short of impressive under the ONE Friday Fights banner, a platform established by the promotion last year with the goal to be “the launching pad for rising stars and the proving grounds for returning legends.”
Since its inception, the weekly event has given fighters exposure to a much wider audience and the opportunity to compete for substantial bonuses.
However, the pièce de résistance remains the six-figure deal that guarantees a spot on the main roster.
Several fighters have already put their pens to paper. Muay Thai practitioners such as Seksan Or Kwanmuang, Johan Ghazali, Yu Yau Pui, and Thongpoon PK Saenchai are among them.
Now, Bumina-ang stands at the precipice of history, eyeing to become the first mixed martial artist and Filipino talent to land this sought-after pact.
“Winning this would be a big deal for my career because it signifies that all the sacrifices and efforts I put into training have paid off. It’s also a validation of my level as a fighter,” he said.
The Baguio City-based hard-hitter appears to be on the right track to achieving this milestone. He holds a 4-0 record in ONE Friday Fights, winning two matches by knockout and one via submission.
If he clinches his fifth consecutive victory, Bumina-ang firmly believes that his permanent presence in ONE Championship’s locker room can no longer be denied.
“I’ve done almost everything in ONE Friday Fights. I think it’s time for a new chapter, especially if I succeed in my next fight. Hopefully, I’ll get the contract,” he stated.
