#teamlakay

ONE: FIRE & FURY swept through the Philippines this past Friday, 31 January, in incredible form – and after the dust settled, the country was left with plenty to talk about.

Among the stacked 11-bout card, fans saw several of their compatriots notch huge wins after dazzling ground battles inside the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila. Members of Team Lakay were among some of the respective winners who outdid their opponents on the canvas.

This might have surprised some fans, who, expecting the famed Baguio City gym to showcase their usual wushu skills, were treated to a display of technique on the ground instead.

Gina “Conviction” Iniong was the first to stage Team Lakay’s ground skills as she used her powerful grappling to impose her will over Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka en route to a unanimous decision win.

Over three rounds, Iniong smothered her rival from top control and even managed to lock in a guillotine choke. Although she could not get the finish, “Conviction” showed just how far Team Lakay has improved on the ground.

Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang further displayed the team’s growing ground game in his win over Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit. As expected, the Team Lakay standout used the explosive elbows and kicks that made him a contract winner on Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series.

But outside of a striking flurry in the opening seconds, Adiwang mostly relied on his stout grappling to keep his Thai rival on the defense. Once he got Mitsatit to the canvas, “Thunder Kid” advanced to half guard, locked on a kimura, and forced the tap with two minutes to spare in the first round.

In just his second appearance in The Home Of Martial Arts, Adiwang’s grappling ability has already caught the attention of the strawweight division.

In the main event of the evening, it was Joshua “The Passion” Pacio who further displayed Team Lakay’s ground skills in his split decision win over Alex “Little Rock” Silva to retain the ONE Strawweight World Title.

Leading up to the match, Pacio expressed awe and respect for his opponent’s grappling mastery. “The Passion” believed he stood the best chance of winning if he kept the contest with Silva on the feet.

Surprisingly, Pacio held his own on the ground, and he defended the Brazilian’s repeated attempts to pass his guard. The World Champion even showed slick reversals and transitions to escape from Silva’s control.

The Filipino strawweight’s tight guard and stingy defense on the ground while grappling with Silva were among the most impressive moments of the match. Pacio never let “Little Rock” roll into a rhythm, and that proved to be the key to his victory.

Pacio, Adiwang, and Iniong’s performances could signal the start to a new era for Team Lakay. If there were any doubts about the team’s grappling abilities before last Friday, their respective bouts at ONE: FIRE AND FURY have shown otherwise.

ONE Championship travels to Jakarta, Indonesia next for ONE: WARRIOR’S CODE this Friday, 7 February, at the Istora Senayan.

Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live and for free.

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This Friday, 31 January, two of the finest athletes in the strawweight division are set to collide at ONE: FIRE & FURY in Manila, Philippines.

Joshua “The Passion” Pacio defends his ONE Strawweight World Title against former World Champion and BJJ master Alex “Little Rock” Silva at the Mall Of Asia Arena.

Pacio knows it will be no easy feat to defend his strap against the ground specialist, who is a Copa De Mundo BJJ World Champion.

“He’s in an amazing team with Evolve, he’s been a champion, and he has always been a top contender, so I expect this to be really tough,” Pacio said.

“Little Rock” is coming off a stellar year, where he recorded two consecutive submission finishes to earn his shot at the World Title.

Silva’s BJJ skills were on full display in both wins – a second-round armbar win over Stefer “The Lion” Rahardian at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD and another slick rolling armbar victory over Peng Xue Wen at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS.

The Singapore-based Brazilian’s total eight submissions have accounted for a phenomenal 89% career finishing rate, and Pacio knows he will be at a disadvantage on the ground.

However, “The Passion” believes he will have the edge in the stand-up battle.

“His strength has always been his grappling, I don’t think we can say anything about it, but if it stays striking, that’s our expertise,” he said.

The Filipino sensation has dazzled local fans with several highlight-reel finishes on his home turf.

Few can forget his jumping knee KO of Yosuke Saruta in April to reclaim the World Title, which fans voted the number one mixed martial arts knockout of 2019.

Although Pacio has no qualms about pulling off another sensational finish if the opportunity presents itself, he is focused on getting his hand raised inside the Mall Of Asia Arena.

“Of course we will be looking for a finish, but it will always depend on where the fight goes,” he said.

“But you can expect that I will do everything to get that win, whether by knockout or decision.”

Can “The Passion” author another exciting finish at ONE: FIRE & FURY on 31 January in Manila, Philippines? Tune in to find out.

The lead card starts on meWatch at 5:30pm Singapore Standard Time (SGT).

To watch the main card, tune-in to meWatch at 8:30pm SGT.

Also, Channel 5 will air the event via next day delay on Sunday at 12:00am SGT.

Or download the ONE Super App to watch all the action live and for free.

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This coming Friday, 8 November, Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio will try to redeem himself in a rematch against Toni “Dynamite” Tauru at ONE: MASTERS OF FATE in Manila, Philippines.

When the two athletes first met at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION in December 2016, Eustaquio suffered a first-round submission loss by rear-naked choke.

Now, “Gravity” is certain he will grab the win in front of his compatriots inside the Mall Of Asia Arena.

“I was not myself that time. I learned my lessons and I will do my best not to repeat the same mistakes,” Eustaquio said.

“I think staying focused and making sure that I am ready for everything when we’re in the Circle will make it a different story [this time around].”

Since his loss to Tauru, Eustaquio applied those lessons to his game and has made tremendous progress.

The Filipino hero redeemed himself in rematches against Anatpong Bunrad, Kairat Akhmetov, and even Adriano Moraes – all of whom had beaten him at one point.

The Team Lakay representative is also one of the busiest competitors in ONE. He has competed more than twice as many times as Tauru since their first meeting in 2016.

“For me, [staying active] has very positive effects – it makes me grow faster and I am able to focus on my improvements,” he said.

But Eustaquio will not let himself get carried away ahead of his rematch. He knows his Finnish opponent is an elite submission artist who defeated him the first time.

However, “Gravity” has faced several high-level grapplers in his competitive schedule and is confident he has what it takes to pull off a submission win of his own against Tauru.

“I still need to watch out for his grappling, but I’m not afraid to mix it up on the ground,” he said.

The Filipino contender believes he can get the stoppage victory and prove he is now a better and more well-rounded mixed martial artist.

“What matters most whenever I compete is to perform to the best of my ability and give the fans an entertaining fight. They will see my improvement and growth, and I will do my best to show how I can bring my game to the next level,” Eustaquio said.

“I am looking for a stoppage, and I’m hoping that I can end it by submitting him.”

Check out ONE: MASTERS OF FATE, this Friday, 8 November.

The preliminary card starts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the ONE Super App at 5:30pm Singapore Standard Time (SGT). To watch the main card, head to Toggle at 8:30pm SGT.

Also, Channel 5 will cut-in to the live broadcast at 10:00pm SGT.

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Honorio "The Rock" Banario will be on the lookout for Lowen Tynanes’ takedown attempts when they meet inside the cage this coming Friday, 25 January.

The Team Lakay representative is scheduled to lock horns with the undefeated American phenom at ONE: HERO'S ASCENT, which takes place at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

It will serve as both the night’s co-main event and the first quarter-final of the highly-anticipated ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix.

Banario, who previously held the ONE Featherweight World Championship, is longing to test how far his current skill set has improved. Having been branded as solely a striker early in his career, he feels now is the time to showcase his development in the grappling department.

"This will be a good bout because this will test if I have really improved my wrestling,” the 29-year-old Filipino said.

“Lowen Tynanes is something else. He has good wrestling, and [he is] a high-level athlete. He’s a very well-rounded martial artist, who is yet to be defeated.”

Hailing from Hawaii, Tynanes holds an unblemished record of 9-0 with four wins by submission and two by knockout.

Using an aggressive striking approach and wrestling techniques to subdue his opponents inside the cage, the American has defeated some of the biggest names in the Asian mixed martial arts scene — including Banario’s teammate and reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

"It's a big challenge for me to face him,” the Team Lakay veteran admitted.

“My team was surprised when we found out that he will be my first opponent for the ONE Lightweight Grand Prix.”

Banario is coming off a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over Singapore-based Indian Rahul Raju at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS last November.

The Filipino knows he will have his hands full against Tynanes, and that the upcoming bout will be a step up in competition.

With the help of his team, “The Rock” is confident he will pass the acid test with flying colors.

"I have huge respect for him as a mixed martial artist," Banario said.

"I think Tynanes will attempt to take me down, so I have to defend his takedowns and do my best to keep it standing.