Igorot Muay Thai star Islay Bomogao is ready for her next challenge: rise through the ranks in ONE Championship.
For Igorot Muay Thai fighter Islay Bomogao, age is no barrier to vision.
Recently-signed to ONE Championship, the 23-year-old stands as a symbol of ambition and pride as she takes on a new challenge by being the first homegrown Filipina in ONE’s uber-competitive Muay Thai division.
[Related: Islay Bomogao joins ONE Championship as first homegrown Filipino Muay Thai fighter]
Not only this, Bomogao is pursuing her dreams and is representing her heritage with grit. At such a young age, Islay has accomplished milestones that many fighters strive for decades.
“I made such ambitious goals with difficult timelines so I literally had to work hard even if it caused me to miss out on things people my age should experience.” Bomogao told One Sports.
Islay’s commitment to martial arts is quite the journey—one not without sacrifices but driven by a strong sense of purpose.
At the core of her ambition lies a tireless pursuit: to rise within ONE Championship.
“Joining ONE Championship has been one of my most long-term, frustrating goals since I began martial arts and… I finally got it. The good thing is, I'm still young so I have so much time in ONE,” she said, expressing both excitement and frustration on her new career path.
Joining ONE isn’t just an accolade; it’s a dream realized through years of hard work for Bomogao.
Islay now sets her sights on bringing home a championship, especially if ONE introduces one at a lighter weight division. As it stands, her debut bout will be fought under catchweight condition.
Bomogao’s eagerness to prove herself in one of the toughest arenas in global martial arts proves that her dreams go beyond personal accomplishment; she views her Igorot roots as a source of pride, not pressure.
“I have seniors like Eduard Folayang, Gina Iniong, and Carlo Bumina-ang who have already paved the way for us. They already showed what we Igorots are capable of. So all that’s left for me to do is to keep reminding people about us,” she said, noting that Igorot’s have had great success in ONE Championship, especially during the peak of Team Lakay.
Bomogao’s respect for her predecessors speaks volumes about her humility. Through Islay, we see not just a successful female athlete but a cultural ambassador reminding the world of her people’s legacy and contributions.
Her road to ONE was a combination of skill and reputation, boosted through social media and performance rankings such as IFMA, where she currently stands at no. 1 in the -45kg women elite rankings.
In fact, officials witnessed Bomogao in various competitions and saw her potential, which led to sparking an interest for her to be part of ONE.
“They [ONE] heard about me po through social media. Lalo na po nung lumabas yung IFMA rankings, tumunog ‘yung pangalan ko and also through word of mouth,” she said.
And in case you missed it, Bomogao won against Australia's best, Sarah Kwa in Domination Muay Thai 30 via unanimous decision a few months back, again showcasing her readiness for the big stage.
“‘Yung iba po kasing referee-judge sa IFMA, nagre-referee judge din sa mga outside professional Muay Thai promotions like the one I competed in sa Australia, nakita nila ako maglaro sa IFMA tapos sa professional sa Australia and ‘yun na po.”
Islay’s introduction to ONE Championship is a story about a young woman who, despite her age, has pursued dreams with clear resolve.
As Bomogao makes her promotional debut on ONE Friday Fights 86 this November 8, she’s not just representing herself but strength, cultural pride, and grace.