It’s safe to say that all eyes and ears are on Lion Nation MMA’s next move since they formally introduced themselves to the world over a week ago.
The formation of the elite camp created a seismic shift as it brought together a group of athletes who have already earned their stripes in the sport. The lineup features former ONE world champions Eduard Folayang, Joshua Pacio, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario.
Furthermore, the lineup included proven contenders such as Jeremy Pacatiw and Edward Kelly, as well as a pool of blue-chip prospects led by Estrada Donga-as, Denver Songaben, Aaron Posawen, and Jahn Serbo.
With a roster packed with talent and potential, the stable finds itself facing the daunting task of living up to the immense hype surrounding them.
For Pacio, fostering a culture of cooperation and collaboration will be critical to the team’s future success.
“It’s just us being open with each and everyone within the team. The biggest change would probably be all of us being willing enough to listen to each other’s suggestions. That’s how we plan to build this group, and that’s exactly how we decided to start Lions Nation MMA,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
“None of this would be possible if we didn’t collaborate on it. What’s most important to us is that we have an open mind and an open heart to listen to each other.”
Meanwhile, Pacatiw stressed that Lion Nation MMA’s establishment was not solely based on individual accomplishments but rather on a shared vision of unity, mutual growth, and achieving greatness together.
(C) Victory Media
“All of our goals align to the point that we meet in the middle of it all. That’s what I find beautiful in all of this. We’re willing to share our thoughts, and whatever one wants to say, we’re sure everyone will give him a listen,” the rising bantamweight contender said.
After the members of Lion Nation MMA went public about their powerhouse alliance during the inauguration of the Landslide Martial Arts Training Center on June 24, fans and experts immediately began speculating on potential matchups for their debut under the ONE Championship banner.
But much to the surprise of many, the Singapore-based combat sports outfit has yet to announce any bouts for the luminaries representing the La Trinidad, Benguet-based group.
Folayang and Banario understand the anticipation and even the challenges that lie ahead for them, including the probability of facing former comrades from Team Lakay in ONE Championship.
“That’s just the nature of the sport. Sometimes, you can’t avoid that. It’s a different team now, a different setting, so we always respect the main law of fighting. You really can’t avoid that possibility. We are always happy to accept challenges,” Folayang stated.
“We can’t avoid that because if I have someone from our former team who’s in my division, we have to fight. It’s not personal. That’s my job,” Banario added.
As the excitement and expectation grow with every passing day, Folayang is optimistic that Lion Nation MMA will achieve great heights.
“We’re enthusiastic because we believe in each other. We also know that if we stick together, we’ll go far,” the two-time ONE lightweight titleholder concluded.
