BEFORE Carlo “The Bull” Bumina-ang makes his official ONE Championship debut against #5-ranked bantamweight MMA contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu, he can’t help but be grateful for jumping into the demanding sport of professional mixed martial arts.
Following a career selling bananas in Baguio City Market, Bumina-ang now takes centerstage in U.S. primetime in his first foray on ONE’s main roster at ONE Fight Night 24 this Saturday, August 3, inside Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Though there wasn’t anything wrong with being a banana vendor, “The Bull” knew he wanted more, something exciting and challenging and that would put his physical tools to good use.
So what better sport than mixed martial arts?
“I’m grateful because right now I get to do what I love. There’s fulfilment now on my end. Looking back five years ago, if I didn’t take the risk and bet on myself, I would probably still be carrying bananas and selling them in the market,” he said.
“Compared to my situation back then, I’m in a place where I’m happy with what I’m doing, and my life is also improving at the same time. For that I’ll always be grateful.”
Six years since he joined Team Lakay, Bumina-ang is now one of the faces of the squad – especially after the performances he had in the ONE Friday Fights circuit, going unbeaten in five fights with four highlight finishes.
For Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao, he’s not surprised with how seamless Bumina-ang’s transition to combat sports has been.
In the 30-year-old, he saw a determined fighter who has all the characteristics to succeed, from his attitude to his potential.
“I saw a very patient kid, someone who had a different kind of perseverance in him. When he was new to the team, he was really trying hard to keep in step with the team. I heard no complaints from him. He just wanted to compete,” he said.
“From the first time I saw him compete in TLC, the local competition here, I knew that not only does he have the right characteristics, he also has the physical tools to succeed in this sport.”
For Bumina-ang, it’s just his way of giving back to his team for the faith and the trust that they’ve put in him, even six years ago when he was a relatively raw 24-year-old with zero MMA experience.
“I’m very observant. I watch my coach and my teammates, I listen and I learn from them. I make sure to make every training session count because they gave me a chance to be this team’s representative,” he said.
"In return I’m making sure to be at my best in every training session. That mindset got me here.”
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