Sangiao has no plans to relinquish unbeaten streak

AS he gears up to step inside the ring once again on August 5, Jhanlo “The Machine” Sangiao has one goal in mind, and that’s to keep his remarkable undefeated streak intact.

The 21-year-old Filipino phenom is penciled in to lock horns with Mongolia’s Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu for a three-round bantamweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 13, which goes down live from the fabled Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Sangiao holds an immaculate 6-0 professional record with a 100 percent finishing rate, with three of his wins happening under the ONE Championship banner.

At all costs and in whatever manner it may be, the proud La Trinidad, Benguet native is keen on sustaining the momentum he started with. In his promotional debut in December 2021, Sangiao submitted Paul Lumihi with a wrenching rear-naked choke in the first round.

“What matters to me is that I do my best in pursuit of a win. The knockout or submission, that’s just a bonus to me. I’m going in there to fight and to win. That’s my own goal,” he said. With his next outing providing him with a litmus test of what he should expect at the elite level of his division, “The Machine” is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations.

“I have a lot of training partners who are very, very strong and keeping me sharp for this fight,” he said.

“For me, I’m just here to train and to fight. I don’t care who it is. Whoever ONE Championship decides to send my way, I’m taking it. I’m training hard and pushing myself every day to come out on top.”

In fact, Team Lakay comrade Adonis

“The Lion” Sevilleno is now playing a key role in Sangiao’s training camp.

]The ONE Warrior Series Philippines winner lost a grueling encounter against Baatarkhuu by unanimous decision this past April.

“Adonis has been telling me a lot about what [Baatarkhuu] can do, and it really helps me to formulate the right approach for this fight,” Sangiao said.

Smith’s game was one of the reasons which got national coach Patrick Aquino excited after the memorable game with the Iranians.

“They came out well. Medyo jittery in the first few minutes. But, it was the second five which sparked the rally,” said Aquino in an interview with the Manila Standard as the Philippines celebrated their entry into Division A.

The Filipinas, slightly ahead in the start of the first period, 19-15, drew strength on the efforts of Kimi Sayson, Aubrey Lapasaran and Ariel La’O to move away for good.

Sayson’s two triples, along with barrelling shots from Lapasaran and La’O, saw the Filipinas widening a four-point lead, and taking a 41-26 halftime spread.

It was Smith’s trey with three ticks to before the first half ended, which allowed the Filipinas to grab a 15-point edge.

“Hindi lang dalawa ang nag-contribute. Lahat sila,” said Aquino, before they left home to Manila.

With the historic win, the Team Philippines redeemed themselves from a disappointing finish last year.

Last year, the Philippines was the favorite to rule the Division B after sweeping their three-game Group Phase.

But the Filipinas lost their chance when they fell to Samoa in the semis and eventually settled for a thirdplace finish.

“I’m just happy to see that we can compete that well,” added Aquino.

Helya Houdneh and Fatemeh Jafari tallied 14 points apiece for Iran.

Earlier, Malaysia fought off Hong Kong, 52-46, to finish third, with Ke Xin Lee scoring 11 points and 7 rebounds.

The Filipinas reached the finals after Ava Fajardo took charge with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Gilas Women’s National Team when they they crushed Malaysia, 74-44, in their knock out semifinals contest.