By MARK REY MONTEJO
A bouquet of flowers and perhaps a cake – either a carrot or strawberry one – are a perfect combination for the fighter’s birthday on Friday, Nov. 8.
But as a rising Muay Thai star, Islay Erika Bomogao had other thing in mind to celebrate her 24th birthday away from her family in Sagada, Mountain Province.
A win in her ONE Championship debut at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand would be a fantastic gift.
She got her wish. It was magical.
The charming Muay Thai star rocked and dazzled the crowd at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand when she scored a unanimous decision victory over Japan’s Fuu in their catchweight bout dubbed Friday Fights 86.
Proving that she wasn’t just about beauty, Bomogao beat her much younger Japanese foe in their three-round showdown on her way to winning her first-ever victory in the MMA tournament.
“Happy Birthday to Me! Ya’ll already know what I wished for. But seriously, being given the chance to perform tonight on the ONE Championship Lumpinee stage is already an awesome gift for me,” Bomogao wrote on her social media post prior to her fight.
“This is the best birthday ever, I just prayed for a nice performance and I’m really sure that I got it and I did it,” she said in an interview after the match.
Bomogao immediately took care of business in Thai’s combat turf, landing heavy kicks and punches that hurt Fuu in the opening round.
She was relentless in her attack despite the brave maneuvers of the Japanese to seize the momentum.
Before entering ONE Champ, Bomogao has been a consistent top contender for the Philippines in the “Art of Eight Limbs” from local to international competitions since 2017.
The pride of Cordillera region also recently became the No. 1 striker in the 45kg class of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).
A feat she achieved after making herself as the first Filipina Muay Thai champion, beating Australian Sarah Kwah this year.
