Team Lakay, arguably the Philippines’ top mixed martial arts camp, has always represented the country with full pride and honor in every competition they compete in. More importantly, the Baguio-based camp has proudly represented the “Igorot” culture where ever they go.
27 year old Geje “The Gravity” Eustaquio (8-4) is currently in the best run of his young career, winning four out of his last six fights with ONE Championship. After an impressive TKO victory over Malaysian Saiful Merican in enemy territory last January, the Team Lakay was rewarded with a title eliminator bout against lanky Malaysian fighter Gianni Subba. The winner of the bout would then move on to face Kazakh fighter Kairat Akhmetov for the ONE World Flyweight Championship.
Subba (7-2), on paper, had a huge length advantage over Eustaquio as he stands at 5’8″ compared to 5’5″ for the Filipino. However, besides the reach advantage, the 27 year old also had to overcome something else during his preparation for the bout. “I injured my shoulder during my first week of training then injured my other shoulder the week after,” Gravity disclosed.
With the reward of a title shot and the opportunity to fight in front of his countrymen, Eustaquio, exemplifying the heart of a warrior, still pushed through with the fight. “I got good guys around me. I have the best coaches and teammates around me. I’m pretty sure that they will take good care of me even after the fight,” he said. “I’m a warrior and this is for a title shot.”
He showed no signs of being hurt during his fight with Subba. Moreover, the young Wushu practitioner displayed great patience in his bout and fought a smart fight. “First round for me is like I’m picking up myself. I don’t know if I’m to throw the right or the left because I am fighting injured. Thank goodness, he stood up with me,” he shared during the post-fight scrum.
Getting his feet wet and knowing the strengths of his opponent, Eustaquio fought a patient game in continuing to close-in and counter-strike whenever there was an opening. “Second round and third round, I got the pace and, in God’s grace, we got the victory tonight.”
“I’m moving into perfection, I want to master every part of mixed martial arts. If you want to go to the ground, I’ll go to the ground. If you want to strike, I will strike with you.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EohV7R9bWfQ
Outside of his bout, what got people talking during the event was the pageantry involved during his entrance to the cage. Four Igorots wearing their ethnic garbs serenaded Eustaquio on his way to the ring to the delight of the Filipino crowd.
For the Baguio-native, they did not choreograph this entrance for the sake of showmanship or showboating. They did this festive entrance to show to the world what the Igorot culture is and what they represent. “As you can see, during my entrance, they are my fellow Igorots. What they’re wearing was our traditional clothes. I’m proud to say that these Igorots are handsome, they got good bodies and they can fight MMA too,” a jovial Eustaquio quipped.
“Thank you so much to ONE Championship for giving us the opportunity to expand the culture that we have and for the world to know who Igorots are. Because just like you guys, we are humans. Also, I’m pretty sure we are handsome and sexy.”
Looking forward to his next bout, Eustaquio, even if his title shot is not granted immediately, plans to take on anyone willing to fight him. “For now, I’m looking forward to the best of the flyweight division. Whoever ONE gives to me, I’m willing to study him and fight him.”
Team Lakay, for the better part of the decade, has been the best representatives of not just Igorots but also Filipinos in the global MMA scene. With Eustaquio ready to take the leap, the camp continues to produce elite ambassadors to the sport, both in and out of the cage.
