Carlo Bumina-ang recaps jaw-dropping finish of Marcos Aurelio at ONE Fight Night 39: “I stop my opponents”

Defeat tastes bitter when unbeaten records shatter. Carlo Bumina-ang proved that Friday night when he unleashed fury on Marcos Aurelio’s perfect slate.

The 31-year-old Filipino powerhouse delivered crushing hooks at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 24, inside Lumpinee Stadium at Bangkok, Thailand. The Team Lakay standout snapped the Brazilian phenom’s unbeaten record with a TKO at the 50-second mark of round two in their bantamweight MMA showdown.

Bumina-ang entered determined to redeem himself after a submission loss to Elbek Alyshov in November. The bitter taste of defeat still lingered throughout training camp.

The opening round presented early adversity. He struggled to find his rhythm as the taller Aurelio masterfully used his length and distance management. The 21-year-old’s nifty footwork and switch-hitting caused problems initially.

But Bumina-ang stayed patient, establishing range with kicks to the legs and body while gathering intel on his opponent’s tendencies. That first five minutes became a study session that set up everything that followed.

“I kept on reading what his reaction was. Every time that I kicked, he would respond with a kick, and every time I punched, he would punch,” he said. “So that’s what I did.

“He’s good at responding and countering, that’s what we saw in the first round. He’s good at countering and following up with some one-twos. That’s what surprised me.”

Carlo Bumina-ang adjusted tactics to shatter Marcos Aurelio’s perfect record

Carlo Bumina-ang went to work in round two after gathering intelligence. The powerful southpaw began breaking through Aurelio’s loose guard and tricky head movement with precision timing.

He caught the moment perfectly when his opponent went airborne for a left knee. The pinpoint left cross sent the Brazilian dazed to the canvas. Aurelio showed resolve and got back up, but the Team Lakay product saw red.

Ferocious lefts and rights pummeled the debutant to shatter his perfect 8-0 record. Seven of Bumina-ang’s eight promotional wins have come by highlight-reel finishes, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most dangerous closers in the bantamweight MMA ranks.

“I adjusted in the second round, and I set up some kicks, and I got close so he could not throw some big strikes,” he said. “When he tried to counter with punches, that’s the opportunity that I got. So, I caught him with boxing.

“I got him with, I think it was a straight, and he got wobbled, but I kept on digging to his body so he couldn’t easily recover. So I dropped some knees and punches. I set up a left body shot and a hook to the face, and that’s what I caught him. That’s how I got the TKO.”

The victory was one of the most satisfying of his career. It reinforced everything the Filipino standout represents inside the Circle.

“I’m just so happy that I was the first to stop him,” he said. “But that’s what I always do, you know? I stop my opponents.”

With redemption secured, Bumina-ang is ready to climb the ladder again in 2026. His ultimate goal remains avenging an earlier loss to reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu, who submitted him at ONE Fight Night 24 in August 2024.

“Whatever ONE Championship gives me. I will fight anyone,” he said. “But maybe after two or three fights, I’ll get the rematch. Enkh, congratulations again, and I will come and meet you again, in the Circle or ring.”