Carlo Bumina-ang recalls tough journey as ONE debut nears

ONE Championship fighter Carlo Bumina-ang of Team Lakay. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

With his ONE Championship debut drawing closer, Carlo Bumina-ang is eager to test his mettle against the best after his challenging journey to be officially part of the promotion.

Bumina-ang steps on the cage against Asa Ten Pow in a bantamweight clash at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on August 3 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Before securing a six-figure contract with ONE Championship, though, Bumina-ang had to push his limits in several ONE Friday Fights battles and prove worth in the Philippines’ amateur MMA circuit.

READ: Carlo Bumina-ang battles Asa Ten Pow in ONE Championship official debut

After moving to Team Lakay, Bumina-ang worked his way up and eventually earned a shot to fight in the big leagues.

“It’s been five years since I joined the team, and I’m really ecstatic to be in this position now. The things that I went through aren’t a joke. It’s not easy. It will really test you,” Bumina-ang said.

“But this proved that no matter how difficult it can be, when I feel weak and unmotivated, the bitter times – it’s all worth it. I’m so happy that it bore fruit.”

READ: Filipino Bumina-ang earns ONE Championship contract, stays unbeaten

Bumina-ang said he was grateful for the experience that he got from his ONE Friday Fights series stints, where he was exposed to different kinds of fighters and impressed in variety of ways, winning two by knockout, two by submission, one by split decision.

“Having ONE Friday Fights is such a big thing for up-and-coming fighters like me,” Bumina-ang said.

“It will really test your readiness to fight on the big stage. I believe that it gave me experience, and I improved as a martial artist in those five fights.”

With a chance to further his place in ONE Championship, Bumina-ang vows that he will work even harder.

“This feeling is unbelievable,” he said. “All the hardships that I’ve gone through, the sacrifices that I made, it’s all worth it now that I’ve reached this level and I got the contract. But it doesn’t end here.”