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Filipino fighters make their mark in ONE Championship

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA, Philippines – When it comes to combat sports, the Philippines is best known for producing outstanding boxers. More recently, however, the country is also carving a niche in mixed martial arts, and 2016 proved to be a banner year for Filipino fighters.</p><p>Over the course of 14 ONE Championship events in 2016, Filipino competitors tallied 24 victories, including a successful title defense and one of the greatest upsets the promotion has ever seen.</p><div><strong>FOLAYANG CLAIMS LONG-SOUGHT TITLE</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/01/3/folayang-010317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Eduard Folayang celebrates his victory against Shinya Aoki.<em> Handout photo</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Eduard Folayang&#x27;s journey to a world title in MMA came to an epic conclusion as the homegrown Filipino star became the first man to defeat Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in nearly five years.</p><p>Folayang captured the ONE lightweight world championship when he stopped Aoki early in the third round of their main event showdown at ONE: Defending Honor last November in Singapore.</p><p>The massive upset allowed Folayang to join Team Lakay comrade Honorio Banario and Brandon Vera as Filipinos who have won titles in ONE Championship.</p><ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li><strong>READ: </strong> <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/mma/news/2017/01/02/folayang-named-one-championship-s-fighter-year-19882">Eduard Folayang named ONE Championship&#x27;s Fighter of the Year</a></li></ul><div><strong>VERA DEFENDS HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/01/3/vera-010317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Brandon Vera celebrates after beating Hideki Sekine. <em>Handout photo</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Brandon Vera made quick work of Japanese challenger Hideki Sekine in the main event of ONE: Age of Domination last December to successfully defend his ONE heavyweight title for the first time.</p><p>Vera needed just one round to hand Sekine his first defeat. After the Japanese took Vera&#x27;s body shots well, the Filipino star responded by landing a thudding body kick that sent Sekine to the canvas.</p><p>&quot;The Truth&quot; is now seeking to be more active in 2017.</p><div><strong>TEAM LAKAY FIGHTERS WIN 16 STRAIGHT FIGHTS</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/01/3/team-lakay-010317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Team Lakay prepares for an open workout.<em> Santino Honasan, ABS-CBN Sports</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Team Lakay has become a recognizable name in the Philippine MMA scene thanks to the big number of successful homegrown talents that it has produced since 2003.</p><p>Headquartered in the mountains of La Trinidad, Benguet, Team Lakay has been recognized as one of Asia&#x27;s elite MMA groups, spawning fighters such as Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario, as well as up-and-comers in Geje Eustaquio, Kevin Belingon, Edward Kelly, Joshua Pacio, Danny Kingad and April Osenio.</p><p>In 2016, Team Lakay embared on an incredible winning streak, showcasing a magnificently improved ground game to thwart top-level opponents. Team Lakay fighters put together 16 straight victories, five of which came by submission.</p><p>One of their best moments came at ONE: Global Rivals in April, when they won all five if the matches in the fight card.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHT-REEL KNOCKOUTS OF SORIANO, YABO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrMw_8jJuS8" width="600"></iframe></figure><p>Burn &quot;The Hitman&quot; Soriano made his debut in April, losing to Indonesia&#x27;s Sunoto. He was quick to make up for the disappointment, as he registered a highlight-reel knockout of Mario Satya Wirawan in his second fight, a bantamweight encounter at ONE: Titles and Titans in August.</p><p>The 30-year-old Filipino standout finished the job in just 15 seconds by delivering a well-executed spinning backfist that instantly turned the lights out on Wirawan.</p><p>Meanwhile, Jimmy &quot;The Silencer&quot; Yabo likewise claimed a knockout victory against Pakistan&#x27;s Bashir Ahmad at ONE: Tribe of Warriors in February.</p><p>Yabo uncorked a solid right hook while moving backward that laid Ahmad out cold, adding a hammerfist on the ground for good measure.</p><div><strong>PINOY PROSPECTS SHONE IN 2016</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/01/3/kingad-010317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Danny Kingad is named the winner of his bout against Eugene Toquero. <em>Handout photo</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Several young Filipino fighters showed their promise in 2016, led by Team Lakay&#x27;s Joshua Pacio and Danny Kingad.</p><p>Pacio fought thrice in 2016, winning the first two in impressive fashion and earning a shot at ONE strawweight world champion Yoshitaka Naito in October.</p><p>Pacio was close to becoming the youngest Filipino fighter to claim a world title in MMA but made a crucial mistake in the bout, derailing his championship aspirations as Naito secured a rear-naked choke in the third round.</p><p>Meanwhile, Kingad had his fair share of spectacular moments as part of ONE Championship&#x27;s exciting flyweight bracket. In his first promotional appearance last April, he stopped Malaysian fighter Muhamad Haidar just a little over two minutes into the first round.</p><p>Then, at ONE: Age of Domination in December, Kingad mustered a huge victory by submitting veteran and compatriot Eugene Toquero with a first-round armbar.</p><p>(For more sports coverage, visit the <strong><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a></strong>)</p>

<p>MANILA, Philippines – When it comes to combat sports, the Philippines is best known for producing outstanding boxers. More recently, however, the country is also carving a niche in mixed martial arts, and 2016 proved to be a banner year for Filipino fighters.</p>

MANILA, Philippines – When it comes to combat sports, the Philippines is best known for producing outstanding boxers. More recently, however, the country is also carving a niche in mixed martial arts, and 2016 proved to be a banner year for Filipino fighters.