April 20, 2024

From Cebu to Benguet.

The famed Team Lakay gym has formally introduced Adonis Sevilleno, as its newest member from Cebu City who earned the right to wear the signature bright red trunk.

The 29-year-old Sevilleno, who currently has two wins and two losses as a professional mixed martial arts fighter, is the winner of the ONE Warrior Series Philippines presented by ONE Championship and Globe.

WELCOME TO TEAM LAKAY — ONE Warrior Series Philippines contract winner Adonis Sevilleno got a lifting from fellow OWS PH contender Ariel Lee Lampacan during the final series of the mixed martial arts reality show. Sevilleno was later formally welcomed as the newest member of Team Lakay. — OWS PH handout photo

Sevilleno has outlasted 15 warriors in the largest martial arts reality TV show to ever hit the Philippines and earned a $100,000 contract to compete in ONE Championship. 

By winning the show, Sevilleno will also be competing under the Team Lakay banner from now on, and fans will see him in action in his debut against fellow Filipino campaigner Drex Zamboanga at ONE 164 set on Dec. 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena.  

“There wasn’t any day that I gave to myself rest,” Sevilleno said. 

“That’s because I really wanted to win this. I wanted to be a champion and take home the ONE Championship contract.” 

The Cebuano was actually close to dropping out of the show in the finale, as he worried that his ribs may have been broken, but as soon as he  got cleared by medical staff following an X-ray, Sevilleno was unstoppable.

With Sheraz Qureshi dropping out of the competition early on, Sevilleno had to overcome the two early favorites in Jun Montilla and Ariel Lampacan.  

The finale started out with the three remaining warriors being tested and then narrowed down to two. 

The warriors wrestled, grappled, and then did a combination against ONE mainstays Stephen Loman, Jeremy Pacatiw, and Geje Eustaquio.  

After that tiring gauntlet, it was Sevilleno and Lampacan that ended up being the final two, and they duked it out in the final circle elimination sparring showdown.   

That sparring showdown didn’t disappoint.  

Lampacan started out well, connecting with kicks and combinations, using his Muay Thai skills to punish Sevilleno from the onset.  

But Sevilleno found his second wind as the Cebuano went to his wrestling and top control, where he smothered Lampacan for the duration of the sparring showdown.  

After two grueling rounds, Sevilleno stood the tallest.  

“I’m so happy. I’m thinking, I was only dreaming of this before,” Sevilleno said.

“I really wanted to be a member of Team Lakay and join a team of legendary fighters. Through this journey, I did it.” – Harley F. Palangchao