Six years ago, Carlo Bumina-ang had no leaning of being a fighter while working at the Baguio City market.
After earning a degree in hotel and restaurant services from Baguio School of Business and Technology, Bumina-ang got his inspiration of becoming an MMA fighter after four Team Lakay fighters won world titles in their respective weight class in ONE Championship.
When he joined Team Lakay, Bumina-ang slowly learned the ropes while training under the shadows of world champions and never did he know that this coming Friday, it will be his formal coming out party.
After storming the field in ONE Lumpinee, Bumina-ang will be showcasing his skills, and debut against #5-ranked bantamweight MMA contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on August 2 in U.S. primetime at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I’m happy that finally after five years, I will be able to showcase and be part of the main roster of ONE,” said Bumina-ang.
Bumina-ang was supposed to square off against Asa Ten Pow but he is more than willing to take on Baatarkhu in the hopes of barging in to the top five of the bantamweight division.
“I have to be more explosive; I have to be a better,” quipped Bumina-ang.
Starting his MMA journey as an enthusiast in 2018, Bumina-ang slowly emerged as one of the best prospects from Team Lakay.
In 2023, Bumina-ang tested Reza Saedi for his ONE Friday Fights debut and finished him with a first – round technical knock – out.
Denis Andreev took him to the limits but Bumina-ang came back stronger with a knock – out of Ilyas Dursun then followed it up with another imposing victories against Xie Zhipeng and Chayan Oorzhak to secure a US$100,000 contract to ONE Championship.
Bumina-ang and Baatarkhu’s bout is expected to be among the show stealers at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart.
The 30 – year – old’s striking and ground will be put to test against the Mongolian who has defeated two of Bumina-ang’s teammate, Jhanlo Mark Sangiao and Adonis Sevilleno. Roderick Osis
