MMA: Ahead of ONE debut, Islay Bomogao pays tribute to trailblazers

[L-R] Filipina fighters Gina Iniong, Islay Bomogao, and Jenelyn Olsim. Handout/ONE Championship

MANILA -- Before she steps foot inside the ONE Championship cage, young fighter Islay Erika Bomogao paid tribute to her "older sisters" who paved the way for her and inspired her to pursue a career in combat sports.

Bomogao makes her ONE Friday Fights debut on November 8 against Japanese striker Fuu in a 100-pound Muay Thai catchweight bout at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

On her way there, one of the fighters who inspired her is Gina Iniong, the former Team Lakay star who debuted in ONE Championship in 2017. Iniong went 5-2 in the promotion before going on hiatus in 2020 to focus on her family.

Iniong has not competed in ONE Championship since, but her impact on Philippine combat sports is undeniable.

READ: Pinay Muay Thai star makes the jump to ONE Championship

"Ate Gina Iniong is probably one of my biggest heroes," said Bomogao. "She's the one that I would always watch when I was a junior fighter in Team Lakay. I was really in awe of her. She's so strong, she's so good." 

READ: Gina Iniong blazes new trail for women in combat sports

Bomogao also credited another ex-Team Lakay fighter in Jenelyn Olsim.   

"Of course, I also look up to ate Jenelyn Olsim," she said. "I look up to them because I know them personally, not just as athletes. They're very good people."

If she wants to follow in the footsteps of both Iniong and Olsim, Bomogao is going to have to tread the same path that former teammate Carlo Bumina-ang took in the ONE Friday Fights circuit.  

Bumina-ang bagged the US$100,000 contract to compete on ONE's main roster after going berserk at Lumpinee Stadium, going 5-0 with four spectacular finishes.  

Bomogao marveled at how fast Bumina-ang rose up the ranks, especially since they started training together. 

"Another person I idolize is kuya Carlo Von [Buminaang]. I think we enrolled at Team Lakay at the same time, if not, maybe I was even there earlier. But now look where he is. He's gotten so far," she said.  

"From the time I met him, up to this day, he's still the same. A humble and kind man."  

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