Carlo Bumina-ang watched closely as longtime rival “The Tormentor” Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu captured the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Championship with a stunning fourth-round submission of Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade at ONE Fight Night 38 last December, energizing him for ONE Fight Night 39.
The Mongolian warrior’s coronation stirred powerful emotions for the Team Lakay standout, who suffered his first promotion loss to Baatarkhuu via last-second submission just a year and a half ago.
Now the 31-year-old Filipino striker has made his intentions clear: he wants another shot at Baatarkhuu, but this time with 26 pounds of gold on the line. Championship aspirations will have to wait, however, as Bumina-ang will face undefeated Brazilian rising star Marcos Aurelio in a bantamweight MMA clash on A Fighting Night 39 on Friday, January 23 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, streamed live in US primetime.
For Bumina-ang, the path to redemption begins at ONE Fight Night 39 with the 21-year-old Brazilian finisher, who brings a perfect 8-0 record and well-rounded ability into his promotional debut. Bumina-ang understands that building a winning streak is the only way to get back at the fighter who handed him his most heartbreaking defeat.
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Bumina-ang felt nothing but admiration then to look Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu makes history at ONE Fight Night 38. The Mongolian’s victory over former titleholder Fabricio Andrade showcased the ruthless determination and well-rounded skills that make “The Tormentor” a special fighter.
For Bumina-ang, seeing his former opponent reach the pinnacle of the sport created a complex mix of emotions. Instead of being jealous, the Filipino standout found inspiration in Baatarkhuu’s journey from developmental fighter to world champion.
“It was a very impressive performance. He is a complete fighter, and he is an absolute warrior. I was so impressed,” said Bumina-ang. “That guy is unreal and tough as nails. He has an undeniable warrior mentality. He never gave up. His hard work really paid off and I am inspired by him.”
The genuine respect Bumina-ang showed for his rival’s performance demonstrates the character that separates professional competitors from bitter opponents ahead of ONE Fight Night 39. Witnessing Baatarkhuu realize his dreams reinforced the Filipino’s belief that championship glory remains within reach for those willing to endure adversity and persevere regardless of temporary defeats.
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The history between these fighters is still fresh in Bumina-ang’s memory. During their meeting in August 2024 at ONE Fight Night 24, the Filipino striker performed admirably in the opening round, displaying competitive spirit and technical skill against the Mongolian contender. However, Baatarkhuu secured a guillotine choke submission with just one second left in the second round, taking the win from what looked to be heading into a competitive third frame.
The heartbreaking manner of losing – literally losing in the final second before the bell – provided continued motivation for Bumina-ang to prove that the outcome does not represent his true abilities. With Baatarkhuu wearing the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Title belt, the stakes for a potential rematch after ONE Fight Night 39 have increased exponentially.
“Congratulations on your success, Enkh. I wish you the best. I hope I can earn a rematch with you soon. If I can win three or more fights, maybe we can meet again,” Bumina-ang said.
The Filipino’s honest assessment that he needs back-to-back wins before he earns a title shot shows a realistic understanding of how to earn championship opportunities. Bumina-ang acknowledges that fans and matchmakers won’t give him another chance at “The Tormentor” based on their competitive first round alone – he must prove his worth through dominant performances against good opposition.
Bumina-ang’s road to glory begins at ONE Fight Night 39
The immediate challenge comes in the form of Marcos Aurelio, whose perfect 8-0 record includes wins via knockout and submission. The 21-year-old Brazilian brings dangerous finishing and all-round skills to his promotional debut and represents exactly the type of hungry fighter who wants to use established names as a stepping stone to their own championship aspirations.
Bumina-ang cannot afford to overlook this dangerous test at ONE Fight Night 39 as she dreams of future title fights. In fact, the Filipino standout has identified stylistic advantages that could give him an advantage in this match, despite Aurelio’s undefeated record. He also believes that his striking ability and experience competing against ONE Championship’s elite should overcome the Brazilian’s reputation.
“His ground game is good, but he is more of a Muay Thai specialist. He is also a good counter-striker and pressure fighter. It actually suits my style because I prefer aggressive opponents,” Bumina-ang said. “He’s a striker, but I won’t underestimate him on the ground. I have to be careful because I think he’ll try to test my wrestling. My two losses were by submission, so he’ll probably think he can take me there. But I’ll prove him wrong if he tries.”
The admission that both promotional defeats came via submission reveals that Bumina-ang was aware of what opponents will focus on. His willingness to address this vulnerability could make him unstoppable moving forward. The victory over Aurelio at ONE Fight Night 39 represents the first step on the long road back to title contention and the revenge opportunity that drives “The Bull” forward.
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