MMA champ cited for Ireland title defense

By Rocky Ngalob and Gaby Keith

BAGUIO CITY – This summer capital has once again cemented its reputation as one of the country’s top breeding grounds of world-class mixed martial artists.    

Councilor Arthur Allad-iw has filed a proposed resolution in the city council congratulating and commending Stephen “the Sniper” Loman of Team Lakay for successfully defending his  Brave CF bantamweight title against Frans “the Black Mamba” Mlambo in Belfast, Northern Ireland on June 19.

Loman is currently the youngest bantamweight title holder having defended his crown against Mlambo via unanimous decision in the main event of Brave CF 13:  Europe Evolution mixed martial arts competition.

Loman’s parents hail from Mountain Province and Ifugao and are now residents of Barangay Brookspoint here.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said that Loman’s achievement has not only brought honor to himself and his family but to the whole city, region and country as well. Loman, in a courtesy call, visited the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Cordillera Administrative Region where he was cited by employees led by NCIP regional director Roland Calde.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Lomanalong with his proud parents, presented NCIP-CAR with this Brave Fighting Championship Bantamweight belt which he won against Franz Mlambo in their rematch in Northern Ireland.

Calde congratulated the IP fighter by thanking the latter saying, “Stephen Loman, along with other IP fighters from Team Lakay, cemented Cordillera in the international map.”

According to Calde, Cordillerans are known nationally as fighters molded and proven throughout our rich history.

“Our IP identity as fighters is now known beyond our Philippine boarders throughout the international community, because of the latest achievement of Stephen Loman,” said Calde.

The regional director gave Stephen Loman a set of IP attire from Mountain Province as a token which the latter graciously accepted.

Loman promised that he will be wearing the said IP attire in his next title defense. “We were not allowed to hoist our flag during our walk-ins, but I hope Brave CF authorities will allow and consider me wearing my IP attire in my next walk-ins for my third title defense”, said Loman.

Along with the IP attire, Calde also awarded Loman with a certificate of recognition citing his achievements in behalf of Cordillera IPs.

Meanwhile Calde urged fellow government agencies and private institutions including philanthropists all over CAR to support IP fighters competing abroad. Cordillerans, according to Calde are natural-born MMA fighters. “What Cordillerans lack in height, they more than make up for in their superhuman strength,” said Calde.

NCIP-CAR was the first government office Loman visited. He is scheduled to visit the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province and Ifugao where both Governors, Bonifacio Lacwasan and Pedro Mayam-o respectively, are waiting for him.

“Loman is the first Asian and arguably the first IP to win a championship belt under the Brave CF fighting promotion. Surely he will not be the last” ended Calde