• Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

When reality strikes: Gina Iniong out indefinitely from competitive MMA

Armando Bolislis by Armando Bolislis
June 15, 2020
in Sports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0 0
0
Conviction values perfection of craft, championships

ONE Championship photo

0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s difficult for bread-winner men to speak about feelings and predicaments of working mothers who are pregnant or caring small children…

…because unlike the men, these women prioritizing the job over mother duties could result to dire consequences to the unborn child or young toddler whenever some reality strikes.

Such is the recent case of Team Lakay’s Gina Iniong.

RelatedPosts

Baguio family commended for outstanding performances in triathlon events

Nat’l, int’l Benguet athlete-medalists, coaches feted

Yap steps in as ‘manager’ for Team Lakay

Her’s is not about a regular 8:00 to 5:00 routine job. It is a job that is not really available to a common working man because of certain conditions, one that can be only given to a “specialist”.

Just as our print version is about to go to the press for its June 7, 2020 issue last week, ONE Championship let the cat out of the bag, informing their thousands of fans in their website that the recently wed “Conviction” is actually expecting her first baby with husband Richard.

It was just ironic that the timing of this personal momentous event for Iniong came during one of most intriguing times possible.

Just over a month ago, local fight fans became ecstatic when ONE Championship released its first ever rankings and confirm Iniong could be headed straight to a lucrative MMA career as she was right in the mix for the top prize of the ONE women’s atomweight division.

In case you hadn’t noticed, this division is full of female MMA superstars that dominate ONE headlines and Iniong is one of the personalities who can give the Philippines a chance to control this weight division.

Like how Joshua Pacio, Rene Catalan, and Lito Adiwang currently do in the men’s strawweight division, a pair of Filipinas, Iniong included, can rule the women’s atomweight for a considerable time if their “lucky stars” will just align to put them in the right conditions.

Let’s do a quick roll call of who’s who in this division:

(1) The current champion is Angela “Unstoppable” Lee, the famous Canadian-Amercian national who represent Singapore because of her Chinese-Singapore and Korean descent. She is 10-0 against atomweights and defended her title four time since winning it on May, 2016;

(2)  Thailand-based Filipina Denice Zamboanga, an unbeaten fighter who is set to challenge Lee anytime soon as sports goes back to normal, and

(3) Super Series atomweight kickboxing & Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand. She is a friend and stablemate of Zamboanga and is also unbeaten in MMA fights at moment.



Winning a division like this comes with a certain prestige. And the two Filipinos involved could really put a stronghold for some time.

Thing is, Iniong is on the right track of setting a legit challenge for the throne. She riding a hot streak MMA career wise, her fiery assault only halted by the still on-going pandemic.

She is on a two-bout winning streak and winning 3 of her last 4 bouts including a domination of Asha “Knockout Queen” Roka in their women’s atomweight mixed martial arts battle during ONE: Fire & Fury on January 31, 2020 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

She pulled out a rabbit inside a hat for Team Lakay in registering the unanimous decision against Roka. She relied majorly on submission attacks, a very rare feat for this gym generally known for their stand-up, strike game.

While many Lakay fighters have shown tremendous improvements and seamless adaption of the grapple and ground game, Iniong could make a genuine claim of being responsible for ending the myth that Team Lakay’s Achilles Heel is their propensity to center their game on striking and being easily defeated when the action goes down the mat.

Overall, Iniong is 5-2 in ONE Championship since winning her first bout in the promotion on April 21, 2017.

In addition, she also won a gold medal for the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in kickboxing.

So, when the news broke out that she is about to take a long, long break from entering the squared circle, it could be fairly considered a “disappointment” in terms of the sports angle.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to her coach Mark Sangiao, Iniong actually even thought of permanently hanging her gloves. “She thought about retirement.” Sangiao said in a ONE interview.

She even had planned for it way ahead. “Even before the SEA Games, she was telling me that she wanted to focus on her family. She said they’re getting older and they already want to have a child,” Sangiao explains.

No, this is not to diminish the importance of deciding to put family first over an MMA career, it should not even be close. Really.

As Sangiao aptly put it: “This is such a huge blessing for her. She wanted this for a long time, and it was given.”



On the other hand, Iniong’s pregnancy could not have come at another perfect time when related to her MMA career.

This is so because the conduct of contact sports events, especially those with multi-nation participation like ONE, are shelved for a considerable time, probably until 2021 or even 2022.

With no expected fights in about one to two years, Iniong’s wishes to extend the family tree were well placed, giving her the possibility of a comeback in the ONE circle given she is only 29.

And Sangiao altogether knew this. “I told her to focus on her pregnancy and then maybe she can make decisions after if she really wants to stop”, he said.

He’s right. Serena Williams, probably the best female tennis player ever, did just that at age 35. Williams announced that she was then 20 weeks pregnant on April 19, 2017 and eventually gave birth to a daughter on September 1, 2017.

She eventually made a complete return to highly competitive tennis on May of 2018 by participating in the French Open.

Difference is Williams did plan from the very beginning to return to tennis. She knew she will be playing again after her child is born.

Iniong could learn a thing or two from Williams because while tennis is not a contact sport, it requires much more mobility and endurance when compared to MMA.

Of course, having a child during this pandemic is altogether another story in itself and Iniong and her family must have understood the consequences of such, a topic this page is not qualified and chooses not to discuss.

Cordilleran fight fans would surely miss Iniong’s presence in the ONE fight cage and her chance to exchange mitts with the competition rich ONE women’s atomweight division.

Her Team Lakay mates must have felt the same but are one with her as Sangiao confirmed Iniong is out indefinitely and Team Lakay is firmly behind her decisions.

“We cannot really tell if Gina Iniong will return,” Sangiao continued. “It’s her decision. We cannot really say. It’s her life and whatever she does, we’ll support her.”

Iniong’s case is a good sample of how life sometimes throws curveballs to anybody, forcing them to make difficult choices.

Like this reality that a supposed normal event for a regular family has different consequences if it happens to a specialist involved in an unusual job.

By: Armando M. Bolislis
You might also like:

Let’s get physical: A healthy body leads to a sound mind
Red Sox’s Keep the Faith: A Minor Miracle
Kobe Bryant is also a Larry Bird emulator
Big J, The Kraken, Quick Brown Fox banner this potent PBA starting five
Will Bitcoin Play a Bigger Role for Traders and Consumers in Baguio?
Why is the Bible trustworthy and reliable and is God real?
Overcoming Struggles: An Amazing Dad’s Tale  
Agricultural Rituals of Sabangan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ShareTweetSend
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Yap donates test kits for BGHMC laboratory

Next Post

Puguis communal forest to serve as PNP training site

Armando Bolislis

Armando Bolislis

Related Posts

Floyd Mayweather: The Greatest?

Baguio family commended for outstanding performances in triathlon events

by Dexter A. See
January 28, 2023
0

City officials recognized and commended the Ramos family who represented the city in various triathlon races and events for their...

NFL: Lions to continue run against the Falcons following ‘Upset of the Year’

Nat’l, int’l Benguet athlete-medalists, coaches feted

by ---
January 21, 2023
0

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Twenty seven Benguet athletes who won medals in recent national, and international sports competitions received recognition...

Team Lakay led fighters who stood tall in ONE

Yap steps in as ‘manager’ for Team Lakay

by Hent
January 19, 2023
0

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – After Joshua Pacio lost the last world title for the Philippines in One Championship, Benguet District...

Next Post
Puguis communal forest to serve as PNP training site

Puguis communal forest to serve as PNP training site

Baguio Health Officers engage Korean Community

7 Tabuk Barangays locked down

BENECO ordered to stop collection of universal charge

No six months installments for BENECO bills

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

FRONT PAGE PHOTOS – 2021

Yap pushes for stiffer fines against anti hospital deposit law breakers

February 4, 2023
Fate of Cordillera in House version of charter change doubted

CSWDO evaluates District 2 KALIPI accomplishments

February 4, 2023
BDO Unibank Holiday Branch Schedule for Dec 30, 2021, onwards Advisory

BDO strengthens commitment to renewable energy

February 4, 2023
Schools required to provide drinking water for students

EMB-CAR warns public against chemical contamination of Itogon waterways

February 4, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon

Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal. The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon. The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory.

Follow Us

Search

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
  • Sectoral news
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Other sections
  • Ads & Notices
  • About Us

© 2022 Baguio Herald Express - Website Design by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us

© 2022 Baguio Herald Express - Website Design by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist