AFTER an eventful 2024 for Philippine MMA, the upcoming year will be crucial for the continued rise of the sport in the country.
Both Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga and Joshua “The Passion” Pacio are slated to compete in ONE World Title matches to open the year, while longtime Filipino stars like Lito Adiwang, Stephen Loman and Jeremy Pacatiw will look to make their mark.
Meanwhile, talents such as Marwin Quirante and Eros Baluyot are eyeing a spot on the main roster as they continue their grind in the ONE Friday Fights circuit.
Here, we examine some of the biggest questions for the Philippines in ONE Championship for 2025.
Will the Philippines have a World Champion by next year’s end?
The first two months of 2025 will provide serious answers to this question as Zamboanga vies for the ONE Interim Atomweight MMA World Title against Alyona Rassohyna, and Pacio unifies the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship against Jarred Brooks.
A win for either of them will assure the Philippines of a World Champion for at least half the year, while contenders like Loman and Adiwang continue their climb up their respective divisions’ ladders for a potential World Title shot.
The Philippines has always been a major player in MMA, and with the influx of talent, it’s up to the fighters mentioned above to maintain the country’s legacy in the sport.
Who will be the next Pinoy to graduate from the ONE Friday Fights circuit?
Carlo Bumina-ang became the first Filipino to earn the US$100,000 contract with ONE Championship after going unbeaten on the ONE Friday Fights stage.
No other Filipino has followed him since.
That could change soon with Quirante impressing fans with two finishes in ONE’s ultimate proving ground, while Baluyot showcased his grappling skills, giving Filipino fans a different look.
MMA fighters Carlos Alvarez and Fritz Biagtan are also strong candidates to break through, having returned to winning ways in 2024.
Will Islay Erika Bomogao live up to being the face of Philippine striking?
ONE Championship has placed a significant spotlight on striking arts in recent years, but the Philippines has largely missed out, with no active competitors in Muay Thai or kickboxing.
That changed a few months ago when highly touted Muay Thai fighter Islay Erika Bomogao joined ONE Friday Fights and impressed in her debut against Fuu in a catchweight bout.
Bomogao possesses the skills and personality to become the Philippines’ next big star, not just in striking arts but in the overall combat sports scene.
However, there are challenges she must address before her potential can be fully realized.
First, Bomogao needs to bulk up to compete with the bigger atomweights. She debuted at a 100-pound catchweight. Normally, atomweights can go up to 115 pounds, potentially putting her at a disadvantage if she remains at her current weight.
Even if she gains weight, she will need to continually improve to keep up with the growing pool of talented women entering the atomweight division, many of whom are emerging through ONE Friday Fights almost weekly.
Nevertheless, it’s a significant step forward for the Philippines to have Bomogao in this position.
Now, it’s up to her to continue putting in the work.
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