Team Lakay welcomes Gina Iniong's newborn daughter


Photo from Team Lakay's Facebook page and ONE Championship

Famed Benguet mixed martial arts stable Team Lakay welcomed the newborn daughter of its ONE Championship atomweight fighter Gina Iniong.

In a Facebook post Sunday, Team Lakay extended its congratulations to Iniong and husband Richard Araos for bringing baby Gianna Rose into the world.

"In tough times brought by calamities, we need a sunshine to uplift our weary spirits. Thank you Gianna Rose for being that beautiful sun!" wrote Team Lakay.

Iniong married Richard Araos October last year before bagging a gold medal in kickboxing in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in December.

Iniong's pregnancy prompted her to take a hiatus in MMA, with the most recent win against Asha Roka of India via unanimous decision last January in ONE: Fire & Fury.

The 31-year-old Iniong earlier considered retiring from the sport, but Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao convinced her to focus on the pregnancy first before coming up with a firm decision.

Iniong, known as the "Conviction" in the Circle, currently holds a 9-4 MMA record, winning five of seven matches in ONE Championship as No. 5 in the atomweight rank.

It's only a matter of time before Iniong decides to hang her gloves for good. But for now, she can enjoy motherhood first and make up her mind later on.