Team Lakay’s upcoming title fights a huge moment for PHL —ONE chairman

Team Lakay of Baguio City has long been the premiere mixed martial arts camp from the Philippines, and with two upcoming world title fights, ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong just couldn't help but see it as a huge impetus for the local MMA scene.

Joshua Pacio, 20, is set to challenge Yoshitaka Naito for the strawweight title on October 7 in Yangon. Eduard Folayang, meanwhile, will battle Shinya Aoki for the lightweight title on November 11 in Singapore. Both Filipino fighters will headline the mentioned events.

"I think it's a huge moment in Filipino mixed martial arts, it just shows the power of the Filipino people -- they're huge fight fans," says Sityodtong.

"Shinya Aoki is a monster, Yoshitaka Naito is a monster, so definitely Team Lakay has their hands full."

Pacio and Folayang are predicted to have a tough contest in their upcoming title fights. Sityodtong, however, believes that both fighters are capable of making it happen given the quality of training they get at Team Lakay.

"Mark Sangiao is an unbelievable coach, his athletes are unbelievable," told Sityodtong. "If anyone is going to pull it off, it's going to be that team, Pacio and Folayang." —ALG, GMA News