Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao has been in mixed martial arts for almost two decades.
And just when he thought that he has seen it all, there is still a lot of pleasant surprises that still amaze him.
One of the great developments that Sangiao never thought he would see in the upcoming all-female ONE: Empower set on Friday, September 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
It’s a major event, since this will be the first time one of the world’s top martial arts outfits has booked a card filled with women fighters.
More importantly for Sangiao, the Philippines will be well-represented in the card – specifically the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix. Both Marrok Force’s Denice Zamboanga and Team Lakay’s Jennelyn Olsim will compete in the event.
“Ngayon lumalabas na rin ‘yung mga Pinoy at dumami na ‘yung mga babaeng fighters natin. Malaki na talaga ‘yung MMA at ibig sabihin nun umaangat na talaga ‘yung fighters,” said Sangiao.
“Sana mauwi natin sa ‘Pinas.”
Being part of Empower is cool and all, but ruling the Grand Prix will be a different story.
Zamboanga will have to defeat Seo Hee Ham, the winner of the Stamp Fairtex versus Alyona Rassohyna bout, then either Meng Bo, Itsuki Hirata, Ritu Phogat, or Alyse Anderson to win the tournament.
On the other hand, Olsim will have to beat Grace Cleveland and hope that one of the eight competitors in the GP gets injured just to get into the tournament proper.
“Excited na rin ako kasi everytime na lumalaban si Jenelyn, nakikita ko ‘yung bilis ng improvement niya. Sana mapasali siya sa Grand Prix,” said Sangiao about Olsim’s chance.
“Habang lumalapit siya dun, mas bumibilis ‘yung improvement niya. Very eager siya na makapasok sa Grand Prix.”
Either way, Sangiao sees Empower as a breakthrough moment for women’s martial arts as it will inspire the next generation to enter combat sports.
“Ang laking bagay din sa atin ito lalo na sa combat sports. Marami pang maiinspire diyan na kababaihan,” he expressed.
“Ang isip nila is ‘yung combat sports panglalaki lang. Ngayon, may mga babae na. Ito ‘yung mag-‘iinspire at mag-motivate sa kababaihan. Makikita rin nila na maganda ito sa sports at hindi lang basagan lang ng mukha.
“Pinaglaban ito ni Chatri [Sityodtong]. Makikita rito ang values ng martial arts,” the decorated tactician closed.
