Homegrown fighters set for historic martial arts milestones

By Niña B. Noble

NAGA CITY --- Two Bicolano martial artists are set to mark historic milestones for the region as they prepare to represent the Philippines in upcoming high-level competitions in July and August.

Coach Rlan “Fresh” Faurillo will compete at the Asian Regional Championship – Southeast Asia, scheduled for July 12–13, 2025 in Pasig City, Metro Manila. Faurillo, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, is the first homegrown Bicolano of his rank to represent not just Naga City but the entire country in the tournament. He will contend against some of the top athletes in his weight class across Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Jan Menard “Fresh Kid” Atole is set to become the first Nagueño to debut professionally in ONE Championship, Asia’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Atole is slated to make his appearance on August 8, 2025, in Thailand, signaling a breakthrough not only for his career but also for the regional MMA community.

Their upcoming appearances mark a significant development in Bicol’s growing presence in the martial arts scene. Faurillo’s participation in a continental BJJ championship and Atole’s entry into a premier MMA promotion underscore the progress and potential of homegrown talent in the region.

These milestones also reflect the rising standards of training and athlete development in grassroots martial arts programs outside the country’s major urban centers.