WOMEN have struck it big in Mixed Martial Arts the world over. MMA stars like Ronda Rousey, Chris Justino and Gina Carano are already household names.
Filipinas are lagging a little behind. But that will soon change with emerging fighters like April Osenio stamping their class in ONE Championship the premier MMA organization in Asia.
A veteran Wushu fighter Osenio is relatively new to MMA. She lost her initial bout when she was surprised with a submission. She has strung together two victories of her own and will fight again on December 2 at ONE: Age of Domination in her own backyard at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Osenio is relatively new in the MMA fighting scene. She scored the biggest win of her MMA career with a shocking victory over Malaysian Ann “Athena” Osman in one of the main fights of ONE: Unbreakable Warriors at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia just last September.
Osenio kept Osman at bay with her world-class wushu striking skills. Osman on the other hand countered with takedown attempts which brought down Osenio.
Just a year ago, this would have been the end of the fight. But Osenio already had a year of grappling lessons under her belt and Osman was unable to completely dominate even from a superior position.
The fighters were quick, strong and able to defend holds by reversing the other’s attempts. Osenio locked in an armbar with Osman wriggling free and transitioning into a full mount. But she could not take advantage of her position with Osenio reversing and flipping into a guillotine choke.
Probably winded from all the grappling on the ground Osman couldn’t wriggle free and had to tap out when Osenio tightened the guillotine on her neck.
It was a surprising victory over the more experienced Osman who fought before a disappointed hometown crowd. It was the second consecutive victory for Osenio who improved to 2-1. Significantly, despite being known primarily as a striker, Osenio tallied both her victories by submission.
After losing her first fight Osenio bounced back with a stunning second victory when she submitted Fil-British Natalie Gonzales Hills with an armbar at ONE: Global Rivals last April.
Osenio didn’t know it at the time but she got the biggest break of her career when she substituted for an injured teammate to fight at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the undercard of Age of Champions last year.
Osenio fought Singaporean Kirstie Gannaway. The underdog Osenio was calm throughout the fight. Only 20 at the time of the fight Osenio had been fighting half her life since her school days as a Wushu fighter. She may have been too calm as Gannaway submitted her with a rear naked choke deep in the first round.
Osenio hails from the remote barangay of Gadang, Municipality of Kapangan in Benguet. Right now nobody really knows her or heard of her. But that will soon change if she continues her winning run at ONE Championship fights.