Team Lakay looks to kick off its 2024 campaign on the global stage with Filipino prospect Carlo Bumina-ang leading the charge.
The 29-year-old Baguio City native is booked to lock horns with China’s Xie Zhipeng in a three-round bantamweight MMA bout on the undercard of ONE Friday Fights 50, hosted at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on February 2.
Bumina-ang (4-0) has been making waves under the ONE Friday Fights banner, a platform established by ONE Championship in 2023 to serve as “the launching pad for rising stars and the proving grounds for returning legends.”
“The Bull” seized this opportunity in his August 2023 promotional debut, delivering a stunning knockout victory over Reza Saedi in just 52 seconds.
However, he faced a tough challenge in his second outing, narrowly escaping with a split decision win over Denis Andreev after three round of back-and-forth action.
This past December, Bumina-ang redeemed himself in spectacular fashion with a highlight-reel knockout of Ilyas Dursun.
With three consecutive victories under his belt, he pins his sights on a fourth-straight win – a feat that could potentially earn him a six-figure contract with ONE Championship and a permanent spot on the promotion’s main roster.
Standing in Bumina-ang’s way is Xie, an undefeated mixed martial artist with an unblemished 3-0 record.
Coming from a wushu sanda background, Xie is no stranger to the martial art that forms the foundation of Team Lakay.
This will be Xie’s first overseas assignment, making this clash against a more established opponent like Bumina-ang a crucial moment in his career.
