As the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, plays host to ONE Friday Fights 27 on August 4th, the 12-bout card has also set the stage for the promotional debut of Filipino prospect Carlo Bumina-ang.
Representing the legendary Team Lakay, the 29-year-old Baguio City native is scheduled to duke it out with Iran’s Reza Saedi in a three-round bantamweight contest.
“It hasn’t sunk in entirely, but I feel it. This is it,” Bumina-ang told Tiebreaker Times when asked about his emotions heading into his first mixed martial arts (MMA) bout overseas.
Fans have plenty of reasons to look forward to seeing Bumina-ang’s maiden appearance under the ONE Championship banner, as he is a true jack of all trades when it comes to combat sports.
Ever since he began his formal training with Team Lakay in 2017, he has earned a stellar reputation for his remarkable achievements in various disciplines.
After picking up his first win in the professional MMA ranks in 2019, he received an opportunity to showcase his talent in the Southeast Asian Games as part of the Philippine national team.
(C) ONEFC.com
Donning the country’s signature tri-colors in 2022, Bumina-ang didn’t disappoint as he pulled off a bridesmaid finish in vovinam, a traditional Vietnamese martial art.
He returned for another duty for flag and country at the same multi-sport meet earlier this year, capturing the bronze medal in kickboxing.
This past July, Bumina-ang once again showcased his versatility and adaptability by attaining a double-gold medal feat at the 2023 Pan-Asian Gi & No Gi Jiu Jitsu International Open, where he stood on top of the podium for both the 73-kilogram and absolute no-gi divisions.
Going back to his roots but on a much bigger platform, Bumina-ang feels that he is well-prepared to take on the challenges at this level of competition, despite having only one MMA match under his belt.
“I think it’s with the consistency in training. I just tried to keep building good habits in my everyday training. I feel like I’m ready because I’m already training with our team’s most accomplished athletes,” he said.
Bumina-ang, who initially dreamed of becoming a basketball player, believes that his work ethic led him to the fortunate position where he currently is.
“You really are destined for something, but it still depends on how you worked for it. I could be destined for basketball, but here I am because I really worked hard to get to where I am now,” he mentioned.
With a burning desire to prove that he is worthy of his spot at ONE Friday Fights 27, “The Bull” is eager to erase all doubts about his potential and score a decisive victory over Saedi, who holds a similar 1-0 record in the sport.
“Whatever it takes, I need to stop him. Whether it be on the ground or standing,” Bumina-ang declared.
