Lions Nation MMA

Another ROOOAARR day in the midst of the cold breeze on the Cordillera mountains!

Guess who’s NEXT to roar in de cage!⚡️⚡️

A championship vacancy has given Mark Stephen Loman exactly what he wanted: a clear path back to the top of BRAVE CF

READ MORE: https://www.espn.ph/mma/story/_/id/49459212/brave-cf-108-stephen-loman-sees-clear-path-gold-following-title-vacancy

A championship vacancy has given Stephen Loman exactly what he wanted: a clear path back to the top of BRAVE CF

READ MORE: https://www.espn.ph/mma/story/_/id/49459212/brave-cf-108-stephen-loman-sees-clear-path-gold-following-title-vacancy

LOOK:
A goodnews roaring from the Senate.

Our team was deeply honored to pay a courtesy visit to our esteemed Senator Robin Padilla, whose warm reception reminded us that no matter how far we go, we never forget where we come from. As fellow sons of the mountains, we share a heritage rooted in courage, humility and resilience.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the good Senator for recognizing our champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and our Lions Nation MMA team - former MMA world champion Eduard "The Landslide" Folayang, BJJ coach Gibran Langbayan, boxing coach Darinton Colas and Kervin Lampacan, and Mark Tidang for honoring not only the teams recent achievements but also the enduring spirit of the Cordilleran people.

Your support affirms that the success of our athletes is also the success of our Cordilleran people. This inspires our kailyans to embrace their roots, pursue excellence, and represent our tribe with honor wherever life takes them.

Maraming maraming salamat kabsat ay !! 🥊 ⛰

A significant courtesy call marked another memorable chapter for our team as Lions Nation Mma had the honor of meeting with the Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Lawrence B**g Go in recognition of champ Joshua “The Passion” Pacio‘s recent title defense in One Championsip. Together with former MMA world champion Eduard "The Landslide" Folayang, our coaches Darinton Colas, Gibran Langbayan, Kervin Lampacan and Architect Mark Tidang on the frame Lions Nation MMA extend our heartfelt gratitude to our respected senator for the warm welcome and for recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of our Filipino martial artists. Your steadfast support inspires our sporting community to pursue excellence while proudly carrying the Philippine flag on the global stage.

Every athlete is empowered by leaders who believe in their journey and we are so grateful for standing with our martial arts champions and more so for your commitment to advancing Philippine sports.

Until our NEXT journey of bringing pride again to the Philippines! 🦁

Mabuhay 🇵🇭

THE IGOROT BLACK BELT BEHIND JOSHUA PACIO'S WORLD TITLE SUCCESS

When the referee raised Joshua Pacio's hand after he successfully defended his ONE Strawweight World Championship by submitting Russian Mansur Malachiev, the spotlight naturally belonged to the champion. But behind that victory stood an Igorot mentor whose work often goes unnoticed—Professor Gibran Langbayan of Benguet.

An Igorot and one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in the Cordillera, Gibran Langbayan is a highly respected BJJ black belt, the founder and head coach of Baguio BJJ, and the primary grappling coach of Lions Nation MMA. He is widely recognized as one of the first legitimate BJJ black belts in Benguet, helping elevate the level of grappling not only in the Cordilleras but also in Philippine mixed martial arts.

Before dedicating his life to martial arts, Langbayan worked as a nurse. He eventually chose to pursue his passion full-time, becoming a coach and mentor to some of the country's top MMA athletes. His expertise became even more valuable when Joshua Pacio, Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and other veteran fighters established Lions Nation MMA. They brought Langbayan on board to strengthen a part of their game that had long been viewed as a weakness, grappling and ground fighting.

That decision has paid off.

Against elite wrestlers and submission specialists like Mansur Malachiev, Pacio displayed remarkable composure and confidence on the ground. Rather than merely defending takedowns, he showcased his evolution by securing a submission victory to retain his world title. That dramatic finish highlighted just how much his grappling has improved through years of dedicated training under Langbayan.

After an earlier world title victory, Pacio publicly credited his BJJ coach for transforming his confidence on the mat.

"Having Prof Gibran in the team brought us the confidence we deserve when we go to the ground... Now I know what I am doing."

Pacio also emphasized that having Gibran Langbayan and fellow black belt Godwin Langbayan in their corner gave him the confidence to compete against the world's best grapplers without fear.

Today, Gibran Langbayan is not just teaching techniques, he is helping shape world champions. From cornering Pacio during ONE Championship title fights to mentoring the next generation of Filipino martial artists, his influence continues to grow.

His story is another reminder that behind every champion is a dedicated coach whose wisdom, patience, and preparation often make the difference between victory and defeat.

For the Cordilleras, Gibran Langbayan is more than an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He is an Igorot mentor whose knowledge and quiet leadership have helped produce a world champion on the global stage.

Behind every championship belt is a team and behind Joshua Pacio's world-class grappling stands an Igorot coach who helped transform a former weakness into one of a champion's greatest strengths.






Photo Courtesy || Gibran Langbayan

Striking the week STRONG!! 💥💥

Back to the lions’ den welcoming and reuniting with old friends in the sports🥊

An incredible Fight Night for THE SNIPER

Stephen Loman recently shared his winning moments over life’s challenges to a group of high school students in Baguio City. May you encourage every student to face this school year with courage, determination and the mindset of a champion. This served as a big encouragement to the youths having their comeback for the school year.

Keep inspiring, Champ! 🏆💪

📷 Stephen Loman

“People doubted me, but I tell you never doubt the living God I serve”. Joshua Pacio

Still feeling the hype!
Congratulations again to our 8x reigning One Championship world champ Joshua “The Passion” Pacio!!

Roar and soar! We are proud you champ!! 🦁

📷 One Championship

MARAMING SALAMAT MGA KABABAYAN sa THAILAND!! 🇵🇭

Taos pusong pasasalamat sa ating mga kapwa Pinoy at Philippine embassy personnels sa inyong suporta sa ating mga atleta Eduard "The Landslide" Folayang Joshua “The Passion” Pacio at ang buong LIONS NATION MMA team sa kanilang laban sa Bangkok, Thailand!

Isang matagumpay na gabi sa buong Pinoy community! 🔥

Champions are never built alone. 🥊

Today, we extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible friends and supporters who continue to fuel our LIONS NATION MMA fight camp. Your generosity, encouragement, and unwavering support help our athletes train harder and reach their fullest potential.
Thank you for believing in our champions long before the spotlight. Every victory we celebrate is one we share with you.

Together, we continue to build champions inside and outside the ring. 🔥🔥