SPORTS
Carlo Quinto
It
seems the best fighters in the world are all after our Team Lakay warriors.
After
#5-ranked flyweight contender Reece "Lightning" Mclaren submitted
China's Xie Wei at ONE : 158 on June 3, the Australian identified Danny
"The King" Kingad to be his next opponent of choice.
Kingad
had defeated Mclaren in their first encounter, and to this strong callout, The
King responded by saying he is ready to face Mclaren again, anytime and anywhere.
“Give
me the date and place,” Kingad answered McLaren’s challenge.
Former
ONE World Title challenger Danny “The King” Kingad has heard Reece McLaren’s
challenge loud and clear, and he’s ready to face the Australian star at a
moment’s notice.
The
latter called Kingad out following his first-round submission victory at ONE
158 over Xie Wei.
Kingad
and McLaren faced each other once before, with “The King” taking home a close
split decision in their August 2019 clash at ONE: DAWN OF HEROES. It’s a
rematch McLaren feels needs to happen.
On
the other hand, the Team Lakay stalwart had no hesitation in accepting the
challenge, and he wants it quick.
“I
think he doesn’t believe that he lost in our first fight, that’s why he wants
that rematch. Knowing Team Lakay and knowing myself, we’re not backing down
from anyone. I’m ready if ever we fight each other again. Give me the date and
place!” Kingad said.
McLaren,
a natural grappler, has taken strides to upgrade his striking skills, working
with legendary Muay Thai kickboxer John Wayne Parr recently at Boonchu Gym in
Gold Coast. During his in-Circle interview with commentator Mitch Chilson,
“Lightning” wasted no time and proposed a rematch against Kingad.
Kingad,
who was watching from at home in Baguio City, shared his thoughts on McLaren’s
most recent performance.
“An
excellent performance from Reece! He was able to survive the killer right punch
of Xie Wei. I was amazed and equally entertained by Reece. He really gave it
his all during the fight and submit Xie Wei,” Kingad said.
Obviously,
with their 2019 fight going the distance and with judges split down the middle,
both men can make a solid claim for victory. However, it’s very clear that a
rematch is more than warranted.
Fully
embodying the Filipino warrior spirit, “The King” said he has no problems
settling this matter in the Circle.
Kingad
is the #4-ranked fighter in the stacked flyweight division and his 13 fights
under ONE Championship featured some of the promotion’s top names.
The
26-year-old had a flying start in his ONE Championship tenure going 9-1 in his
first 10 fights. Fighters who’ve fallen to Kingad include Yuya Wakamatsu,
Tatsumitsu Wada, McLaren, and Senzo Ikeda.
But
while he enjoyed a strong run of form at the start of his career, Kingad has
hit a snag lately, going 1-2 in his past three fights. Those losses, however,
were against the elite of the sport.
Kingad
lost to the legendary Demetrious Johnson via unanimous decision in the final of
the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix at ONE: CENTURY Part I in October 2019. His
last loss was a unanimous decision defeat against former ONE Flyweight World
Champion Kairat Akhmetov at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II in December 2021.
True
to his craft, Kingad said he’s bringing valuable experience after his loss to
Akhmetov and he plans to use it against McLaren.
“Yes,
my loss against Kairat taught me a lot. I saw a lot of areas that I need to
work on after my last match. You can say my would-be fight with Reece, if ONE
Championship will make it happen, is a kind of redemption match for me, but the
most vital thing to do is answer Reece’s call-out,” Kingad said.
Folayang wants rematch with Alvarez
Carlo
Quinto
Filipino superstar
Eduard Folayang feels he has unfinished business with Eddie Alvarez.
The two
mixed martial arts legends squared off at ONE: Dawn of Heroes with Alvarez
taking the first-round submission win in front of a stunned Filipino crowd in
August of 2019.
It was a
match that perfectly displayed the strengths of the two fighters with Folayang
raining down menacing strikes on the feet and Alvarez swooping in with his
grappling.
Folayang
said a rematch between him and Alvarez is indeed an intriguing prospect and he
hopes that a second meeting between them could eventually happen sooner than
later.
“Of course,
that’s a great opportunity for me, it’s a great fight if that happens. It would
be awesome if Alvarez vs. Folayang II does happen especially on my part. I
really feel that I could’ve done something more in our previous fight.”
Folayang had
the Mall of Asia crowd rocking in the first minute of the fight when he landed
a brutal leg kick that sent the former Bellator and UFC lightweight champion to
the mat.
Taking
advantage of his downed opponent, Folayang proceeded to land a hellacious
ground-and-pound on Alvarez.
Despite
Folayang’s aggression, “The Underground King” managed to survive and eventually
took top position. Alvarez then took Folayang’s back and slapped in a tight
rear-naked choke to take the submission win 2:16 into the fight.
Folayang
admitted that he made mistakes in his first fight against Alvarez,
nevertheless, the former ONE Lightweight World Champion is eager to erase his
errors.
“It wasn’t
the outcome that I wanted. We all know that we all make mistakes in life. Even
a small error could lead to disaster. That’s why I’m willing that Alvarez vs.
Folayang II does happen,” said the Team Lakay elder.
The
38-year-old added he needs to undergo an intense training camp, harder than his
previous ones if he eventually gets his rematch against the American legend.
“I feel that
I have to drastically improve my striking and undergo an intense training camp
if that fight with Eddie eventually happens,” said Folayang.
ONE
Championship returns this July 22 with the stacked ONE 159: De Ridder vs.
Bigdash which will be broadcast live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Just like
any other fight fan, Folayang will be tuned in to ONE 159 especially with two
title fights in the card.
Reinier de
Ridder will defend the ONE Middleweight World Championship against former
champion Vitaly Bigdash in the main event.
Striking
superstars Janet Todd, the reigning ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion,
and Lara Fernandez will duke it out for the ONE Interim Atomweight Muay Thai
World Title in the co-main event.
Jenelyn Olsim bares struggles in achieving degree
Carlo
Quinto
Earning a degree is
always a challenge, but completing your studies while being a professional
mixed martial artist and a national athlete is an endeavor of the highest
difficulty.
Such was the
case with Team Lakay’s Jenelyn Olsim.
The
atomweight contender recently obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political
Science from the University of Baguio but it wasn’t just her books and
internship that she had to deal with.
Olsim,
during the final stretch of her senior year, had to prepare and compete in the
2021 Southeast Asian Games and for her return fight at ONE 158: Tawanchai vs.
Larsen.
Nevertheless,
the versatile fighter had more than enough perseverance to push through and
achieve what she sought in both her scholastic and martial arts careers.
On top of
obtaining her degree, Olsim captured a bronze medal in the Vovinam competition
in the Hanoi SEA Games and also a crucial split decision win over Julie
Mezabarba earlier this month.
“I think I’m
living the life that I want and I’m happy about it. During those times when it
got so hectic, I knew I had to fully focus, get organized, and strictly follow
my schedule. When things get too distracting, I tend to reset things and I’m
back in my focused state,” she said.
The
25-year-old added that she regularly talked to Team Lakay head coach Mark
Sangiao and her mentors at Singa Law Office about what’s going through in her
studies and career. This openness, subsequently, afforded her the support of
her superiors.
“I
experienced when things just snowballed and everything was happening all at
once but I’m so proud that I didn’t stop. I pursued my studies and got my
degree. It feels uplifting and empowering,” said Olsim.
“I admit
that I find it difficult to balance everything and there were things that I had
to sacrifice. Whenever I feel that my stress is building up, I always think of
the why’s and think of what I’ve been doing in my career.”
Jenelyn
Olsim finds role models in Eduard Folayang and Mark Sangiao
Team Lakay
is not just the home of MMA world champions, it’s also the hub of some of the
most accomplished fighters in the world of academics. This gave Olsim to find
role models not just in martial arts but also in school.
Olsim
said that Sangiao and former ONE lightweight world champion Eduard Folayang
were her role models because of what they achieved in MMA and at school.
“They are my
role models, I genuinely look up to them and they inspire me to accomplish
more. I always take their advice to heart, and one of those is that I should be
focused on finishing my degree,” said Olsim.
Folayang was
once an English and Physical Education teacher after obtaining a Bachelor’s
Degree in Education from the University of the Cordilleras while Sangiao taught
at the same university’s Criminology Department while completing his Master's
Degree.
“Knowing
that they’re champions and they all pursued their degrees, of course, I
wouldn’t be left behind,” said Olsim.
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