24/07/2026
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
