It’s been a roller coaster year for Philippine mixed martial arts in ONE Championship.
The organization has experienced the joy of watching new stars grow and the pain of losing ONE World Championships and seeing old heroes fall.
With the year about to close, we take a look at some of the best Circle moments from our local athletes, and where they stand heading into 2023.
Fighter Of The Year: Stephen Loman
Runner Up: Jeremy Miado
Stephen Loman has truly emerged as the next big thing for Team Lakay, and many fans expect him to get a World Title shot next year.
Loman started 2022 by grinding out a win over veteran Shoko Sato. He finished the year by dominating former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes from start to finish en route to a unanimous decision win.
With victories over two studs in the bantamweight division, Loman could take the next step in 2023 as he awaits the winner of the Fabricio Andrade and John Lineker bout scheduled at ONE Fight Night 7 in February.
Fight Of The Year: Eduard Folayang Vs. John Wayne Parr At ONE X
Runner Up: Jeremy Miado Vs. Danial Williams At ONE Fight Night 3
The Muay Thai bout between Eduard Folayang and John Wayne Parr at ONE X in March had drama, it told a story, and it went right down to the wire.
The two legends met each other in the Circle, one in the twilight of his career, the other for his retirement bout. The fight, suffice to say, lived up to the billing.
Folayang scored an early knockdown in his first professional Muay Thai match, but Parr, being the icon that he is, had one last rally in him and hurt the Filipino in the third round, setting up a frantic finish.
In the end, Folayang was composed enough to weather the storm and land a few shots before the final bell to get the win and send Parr off in the most amazing way possible.
KO/TKO Of The Year: Jeremy Miado Vs. Danial Williams At ONE Fight Night 3
Runner Up: Drex Zamboanga Vs. Rahul Raju At ONE Full Circle
Not many expected Jeremy Miado and Danial Williams to go the distance in their clash, and that’s exactly what happened. But what might come as a surprise to many is just how dominant Miado was.
The Filipino was quicker to the punch, tagging Williams, knocking him down, and then finishing him with a one-two straight combo in the third round to get the biggest win of his career.
It might not be the one-punch knockout that Drex Zamboanga scored on Rahul Raju this past February, but the overall level of opponent that Miado faced takes precedence in this case.
Submission Of The Year: Jeremy Pacatiw Vs. Tial Thang At ONE 164
Runner Up: Jhanlo Sangiao Vs. LA Lauron At ONE 164
ONE 164 brought featured sweet submission wins from two young Team Lakay stars, and while both were impressive, only one gets the distinction as this year’s best for Filipinos.
We’re giving Jeremy Pacatiw the nod for this one.
Facing a tough Tial Thang, Pacatiw controlled the fight on the feet before luring him into his guard and eventually securing the triangle choke finish and US$50,000 bonus in front of his compatriots.