Team Lakay’s head coach, Mark Sangiao, didn’t pay much attention to the pre-fight banter from his son, Jhanlo Mark Sangiao, even after it appeared to backfire following the first loss of “The Machine’s” mixed martial arts career.
The second-generation standout from Team Lakay suffered a defeat at the hands of Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu during ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian, which took place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 5. The loss halted Sangiao’s momentum.
“Jhanlo may have come across as cocky in his approach to the match even before the fight itself, considering how he presented himself on social media and through his words, but these are all part of the mind games,” Mark Sangiao said.
“We all recognize that Enkh-Orgil is a formidable opponent, and how do you counter that? You have to believe and demonstrate that you can defeat him.”
Despite the setback, “The Machine” performed commendably during his bout. He burst out of the gates, even flooring the Mongolian contender with a straight-right punch midway through the first round.
However, Baatarkhuu’s resilience shone through as he swiftly rose to his feet and shifted the fight into a grinding style that suited his strengths even more. The momentum swung in Baatarkhuu’s favor after he knocked down Sangiao with an elbow from the clinch. Eventually, Baatarkhuu secured a kimura submission in the second round.
Despite the loss, Jhanlo Sangiao’s father believes his son possesses all the necessary tools to continue his journey, as long as he maintains both physical and mental resilience moving forward.
“You could say it was a reality check, but I’d rather describe it as a significant learning experience for Jhanlo. I believe he learned that consistent training, hard work, and unwavering focus yield great results in the end,” Mark Sangiao commented.
“In terms of skills, I know he has them, and we will continue to refine them. As for mental toughness, we need to put in a lot of effort there.”
Read More From ONE Championship:
Chingiz Allazov Retains Featherweight Kickboxing Crown, Earns Redemption Over Marat Grigorian
Tawanchai, Lineker, Reug Reug Shine With Highlight-Reel Wins At ONE Fight Night 13 On Prime Video
