TWO Baguio-based emerging mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters are being eyed to be the next big star in the sports.
Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series (OWS) fighters Dave Banguigui of Fight Corps MMA and Team Lakay’s Jerry Olsim are tagged as one of the promising athletes seen to sign up with ONE Championship roster via its developmental league, and bagged a deal worth more than US$100,000.
Olsim began his OWS tenure on the first live event last March and impressed with back-to-back wins in 2018. He has continued that form into 2019 with another pair of victories.
He defeated previously unbeaten Pancrase veteran Hiroyasu Sakurai in April, and then took out the experienced Myung Gu Kim in his last outing to extend his perfect slate to 7-0.
The Filipino has recently made the switch to Team Lakay – one of Asia’s most successful martial arts gyms – and a future at the top looks almost certain for the exciting Muay Thai stylist.
Bangguigui’s stunning second-round KO over Susovan Ghosh was enough for the fans to remember his name in his OWS debut.
The Filipino striker showed good scrambling ability and submission offense as his Indian rival sought to contest the match on the canvas.
He took control of the match with a relentless barrage of ground and pound, and then a thudding right hand ended the contest and left a lasting impression.
The 23-year-old has a lot of room to grow, but he is already 7-1 – with seven straight victories – and clearly ready for the bigger tests in OWS as he vies for a life-changing contract.
Just recently, Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg bagged a ONE contract worth more than US$100,000 and joins the likes of fellow alumni Kimihiro Eto, Mark Fairtex Abelardo and Rockie Bactol in the world’s largest martial arts organization, as well as two-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex.
Other prospects include De’Von Morris, Gadzhimurad Abdulaev, and So Yul Kim.