Last week, Team Lakay once again introduced a promising mixed martial arts prospect on the ONE Championship stage, in the form of Carlo Bumina-ang.
The 29-year-old native of Baguio City was nothing short of spectacular in his promotional debut at ONE Friday Fights 27, where he obliterated fellow newcomer Reza Saedi from Iran without breaking a sweat.
Right from the start, Bumina-ang displayed impressive precision as he launched a sequence of attacks against Saedi.
“The Bull” quickly destabilized his Iranian opponent, beginning with an explosive left straight, followed by a barrage of punches and knee strikes, ultimately securing the technical knockout victory in just 52 seconds.
Despite achieving an emphatic performance in his first assignment, he plans to take the less traveled path by staying under the ONE Friday Fights banner to accumulate invaluable experience before advancing to the organization’s grandest stage.
With unwavering determination and a commitment to growth, Bumina-ang emphasized the importance of patience and preparation in his quest to claim his rightful spot among the elite.
“Personally, I don’t want to rush things. I’d rather take my time at this level and enjoy every moment here first,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
“My aim is to gain as much experience and exposure as possible, and then sustain that before I decide to move on.”
Rather than taking a long break to savor his triumph, Bumina-ang chose to dive right back into training, underscoring his relentless dedication and hunger for success.
Bumina-ang is open to facing all up-and-comers in the bantamweight division, but he cannot deny that one name stands out in his crosshairs—Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu.
Baatarkhu has become public enemy No. 1 in the Philippines for defeating three Filipinos, including Bumina-ang’s teammates Adonis Sevilleno and Jhanlo Sangiao, in the span of nearly four months.
If the two end up crossing paths in the future, it will be a classic matchup of contrasting strengths, and Bumina-ang’s confidence suggests that he’s more than prepared to embrace the challenge.
“I believe I am the more well-rounded fighter and the heavier puncher. I just hope our paths will cross someday,” he stated.
