Team Lakay’s Jhanlo Mark “The Machine” Sangiao grew up watching his father, Mark, develop some of the country’s best wushu practitioners into well-rounded mixed martial artists.
As the team grew from their original name, Lakay Wushu, to the current Team Lakay that fans know today, the second-generation fighter’s views on fighting have also evolved.
One of Senior Sangiao’s brainchildren was the Team Lakay Grapplers Cup, a grappling tournament where fighters from the region competed. It was there that Jhanlo’s fascination for the ground game began.
“I grew up in a time when Team Lakay was also growing as a team. I watched and competed in Team Lakay’s Grapplers Cup. Since I was a kid, I was already a part of it,” he said.
“I guess that’s where my fondness for the ground game developed. Competing there since I was a child allowed me to develop my skills and my love for the ground game.”
This influence is evident today as Sangiao has emerged as the best grappler the team has ever produced. Although he has shown his striking ability when necessary, it was
“The Machine’s” grappling and wrestling skills that earned him three first-round submission wins in The Home of Martial Arts. In two of those victories, he even received US$50,000 performance bonuses from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong for his impressive submissions.
Sangiao appreciates the praise he has received, particularly for changing the perception of Team Lakay stars as one-dimensional strikers. However, he believes he is not the only ground specialist on the team.
He also mentioned his good friend and training partner Carlos Alvarez, who made a strong impression in his ONE Friday Fights 13 bout against Reza Abasi. In that fight, Alvarez relied on takedowns and devastating ground-and-pound to defeat the Iranian and make a memorable ONE debut.
“I was really happy with my last match because we were able to show that we’re not only strikers. All of my wins have come from submissions,” Sangiao said. “Then you look at another one of my teammates, Carlos Alvarez. He was able to dominate through his wrestling in his debut and finish his opponent.”
For Sangiao, the tide is finally turning. “Let me just say that there are a lot of new fighters coming from our camp,” he said. “It’s not only me and Carlos who will lead the next generation of Team Lakay athletes.
“You’ll see that we have so much more to offer.”
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