Another Igorot warrior from Team Lakay has expressed desire to join ONE Championship.
Jomar Pa-ac, a former fighter in the BRAVE Combat Federation, said he wanted to return to mixed martial arts soon through the Singapore-based promotion.
"It's like the best thing to do," Pa-ac, who holds a 6-2 record, told the Manila Bulletin.
In the Bahrain-based promotion, the 24-year-old Team Lakay stalwart earned three wins and one loss in the flyweight division.
Pa-ac juggles his time taking law school, currently in his sophomore year at the Cordillera Career Development College in La Trinidad, Benguet, while training with Team Lakay.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pa-ac was forced to take a hiatus on law school, which actually paved the way for more quality training with Team Lakay.
"'Yung interes ko sa MMA parang ganon pa rin, nag-remain. Although kahit may law school na, pero 'yung fire is still burning (My interest in MMA remained the same. Although I am taking law school, but the fire is still burning within me)," said Paac.
Coach Mark Sangiao, for his part, is supportive of his student's endeavors.
"Tignan natin kung ano 'yung magandang pick sa kanya. Pero sa ngayon pa ang hirap kasi, ang hirap gumalaw pa. Sana makapagtapos na rin siya sa kanyang law (We'll see the best promotion pick for him. But for now, it's really hard to negotiate. I also hope he finishes his law school soon)," said the 42-year-old Sangiao.
Pa-ac has not fought since scoring a unanimous decision win over Satya Behuria of India in March 2019.
Stephen Loman, the longest-reigning champion in the Bahrain-based promotion, was the recent Team Lakay member to sign with ONE Championship.