Team Lakay makes its three for three in URCC

BAGUIO’S Team Lakay formally carved its name in the Universal Reality Combat Challenge by winning another weight class in the recently concluded event dubbed Collision during the weekend at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Roy Docgyogen endured two 10 minuters to retain his pinweight belt while Kevin Belingon came up with a big victory after the six minute mark of the first round to win another super fight belt where the catch weight was at 135.

But the biggest surprise for the night was Honorio Banario who stole the lightweight title against Davao’s Angelito Manguray in the co-main event of the evening via a rear naked choke in the 8-minute mark of the second round scheduled for two rounds.

Banario dictated the tempo of the fight which kept Manguray, previously undefeated after four fights, at bay before catching the 40 year old dentist with a choke forcing the tap out.

“Sobrang unexpected yung nangyari. Magaling din kasi sya yung pinakamatagal kung nakalaban sa ring kasi karamihan puro sa first round lang,” said the 21 year old Banario, a former member of the country’s junior wushu squad.

Banario’s win is the fourth weight class championship belt of Team Lakay.

“Lamang talaga tayo pag dating so conditioning,” added coach Mark Sangiao after their arrival in the summer capital. “Yung first three minutes sumasabay pa yung mga kalaban pero after that parang napapagod na sila.”

Docyogen, meanwhile, retained his belt via a hard fought unanimous decision over Yaw Yan Buhawi’s Alvin Ramirez, their second encounter in three years, where two judges scored the fight 20-18 while one judge saw it at 19-19.

Belingon, meanwhile, made it three for three for Team Lakay after scoring a technical knock-out against Freestyle's Isaac Tuling in their super fight.

A vicious head kick from Belignong sent Tuling to the mat with the flyweight champion pouring on his ground and pound skills against the Davaoeno mix martial artist.

Belingon and Docyogen now hold a record of nine unbeaten record each in the URCC while Banario has a clean 4-0 record in MMA.    

Team Lakay’ s Eduard Folayang, meanwhile, thanked the Municipal Government of Kiangan, Arch. Mark Modi Tidang, Arch Lehman Cosalan, Arch Wendel Aplaten, Arch.Besmark Paran, Shape Up Boxing, Tiong San Harrison, Zero Tolerance, 50’s Diner, Dr. Leo Franko, Atty. Wrenolph Panganiban, and Douglas Rufino for their support. Roderick Osis