‘I Will Always Choose To Smile’ – Inside Danny Kingad’s Playful Approach To Life And Fighting
There’s never a dull moment when Danny “The King” Kingad is around. In fact, the Filipino star radiates infectious energy wherever he goes.
Now, as the 30-year-old prepares to face “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong in a flyweight MMA showdown at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video, he’ll bring that same trademark smile to Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, February 13, live in U.S. primetime.
For Kingad, his lighthearted approach to life isn’t an act. It’s simply who he is.
Growing up in extreme poverty in Baguio City, the young Igorot warrior found solace in mischief – not out of malice, but simply as a child seeking joy wherever he could find it.
That playful spirit never left him, and today, the Lions Nation MMA standout remains hardwired to see the good in everything.
Kingad shared:
“I’ve always been like this. Even when I don’t know the person, my go-to move to break the ice is to make fun of that person. When I was a kid, that’s how I made friends. I teased my playmates, I teased everyone.
“As a Filipino, it’s basically in our culture to always have a smile on our faces. Regardless of how I feel, I will always choose to smile.”
But beneath the laughter lies a deeper truth. The perpetual grin isn’t just a personality quirk. It’s a survival mechanism forged through heartache.
Kingad lost his father at eight years old, leaving his mom to raise five children alone. As a teenager, the pain pushed him toward alcohol and other vices. Then, in May 2024, his mother passed away.
Through it all, martial arts became his salvation, and choosing positivity became his way of staying afloat.
The flyweight star admitted:
“Honestly, there are just thoughts in my head that I cannot easily express. In a way, [smiling] has been a normal coping mechanism for me.
“I’m human, I feel emotions. But whether I feel sad or upset, I will still have a big smile on my face just so people don’t see how I’m feeling. Even when I’m fighting, my opponent won’t see me struggling. I’d flash a smile in his face.”
That affable nature has made Kingad easy to connect with. It has helped him forge unbreakable bonds with his brothers at Lions Nation MMA.
Training alongside reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, the 30-year-old gladly plays the role of comic relief from time to time.
“The King” said:
“I am the prankster of the group. It’s actually quite normal for us at Lions Nation. We bond over a lot of things. Laughter and just messing around are part of our daily lives.
“I’m usually the one starting the shenanigans. We like to joke around just to keep things light. Of course, we know when it’s time to get to business and get serious.”
How Kingad’s Happy-Go-Lucky Nature Fuels His Fighting
That same energy follows Danny Kingad on combat sports’ grandest stage.
Mixed martial arts is one of the most demanding sports on the planet, but for “The King,” staying loose is the key to surviving it.
He offered:
“There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to fighting at a high level, so having a playful approach somehow helps lessen that pressure.
“Being stressed all the time doesn’t help fighters. Even if you’re in good physical condition, if your mental health is not good, you’re not going to succeed.”
Fittingly, Kingad picked up this approach from one of the greatest athletes to ever compete.
At ONE: CENTURY PART I in October 2019, the Filipino faced former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion and Hall of Famer Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in the ONE Flyweight MMA World Grand Prix Championship Final.
It was a competitive three-round thriller and one of the most exciting battles in the division’s history. Though the unanimous decision loss stung, what stuck with him was how the American legend enjoyed every second of the fight.
Kingad recalled:
“You see him always smiling, having fun, and enjoying himself out there. He’s so relaxed when he’s fighting, and it’s something I wanted to apply to my game also. It’s like he’s just playing games out there, but he’s beating people.”
Though participating in any combat sport could be dangerous, Kingad is a professional and knows the risks better than just about anyone. But he refuses to let the weight of competition dim his spirit.
With that in mind, the Filipino plans to savor every moment he steps into the squared circle – especially when he stands toe-to-toe with Hu Yong on February 13.
“The King” said:
“In a way, it’s just a match. I mean, it’s my livelihood, and I take it seriously, but it’s not life and death. I still try to enjoy it as much as I can.
“In my mind, when I’m fighting, it’s like I’m a kid again playing with my friends. And, of course, training is really hard. So, why not just smile through the pain?”
