Gina Iniong eager to make ONE return

Gina “Conviction” Iniong could retire right now and feel satisfied with how her mixed martial arts career unfolded.

But she has other plans.

Iniong put her career on hold right when she was peaking in the sport, and even considered retirement when she found out she was going to be a mom.

Two months her marriage in October of 2019 to beau Richard Araos, she won a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games for the Philippines in kickboxing.

The victory came after winning her last match in ONE Championship against Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka a year ago, then giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in November.

“I won gold (kickboxing) at the SEA Games. I was able to represent my country and bring glory and honor back to the Philippines. Most important of all, I was able to get married and have my precious baby girl,” Iniong said.

“This year, everything just fell into place for me, and I learned a lot of valuable lessons. The biggest lesson I learned this year is that time is so precious. You can’t put a price on it. It’s the only thing you can never make more of. It’s life’s most expensive commodity.”

Though she thought about retirement, Iniong remained a competitor through and through.

She now knows that there’s still unfinished business for her in the ONE Circle, and she promises to jump at the opportunity the moment it presents itself.

“Everything is the same. I want to be the best Gina Iniong in the Circle possible. Nothing has changed for me,” she said.

“I can’t wait to get back in the Circle. I’ve missed it. Once I’m cleared to go back to training, and when my body feels right, you can expect to see me alongside your favorite Team Lakay superheroes again.”

There’s still no date for her return, but “Conviction” will be ready to test her mettle against some of the best the division has to offer.

“My division is really exciting right now. There are so many great talents and I’m so excited about a lot of potential matchups. Any opponent that ONE Championship will give me, I’ll be ready,” Iniong said.

“I’m hungry and motivated to re-establish myself at the top. Fans can expect a stronger, wiser, and more dangerous Gina Iniong next year.”