Ground and pound 7: Resolution'Gladiator' ready to take on 'Spider' in MMA showdown

CEBU, Philippines - Former URCC champion and PXC veteran Victor ‘Gladiator’ Torre is all pumped up to vie for the vacant Ground and Pound Championship (GPC) flyweight title against the undefeated Cebuano fighter James ‘Spider’ Serenio on the undercard of the keenly-awaited “Ground and Pound 7: Resolution” Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) showdown on August 31 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Bacolod City-native Torre, who sports a 6-2 win-loss record, said that winning the GPC belt is very important for him to resurrect his career that was tarnished by two consecutive defeats at the hands of Cebuano Eugene Toquero and Team Lakay member Jerome Wanawan.

“Good luck to both of us, but I think I am hungrier to get that title,” said Torre. “I am known to be a ground specialist, but this time I will showcase my skills on kickboxing.”

Torre will take on Serenio, a young MMA prospect who is unbeaten in his six fights highlighted by a 45-second destruction of Jafet ‘Smiling’ Flores in the main event of the “Who Are You?: Unleash D’ Unstoppable” fightcard in July last year at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The pride of SOMA Kickboxing Club is also aiming to score a career-defining victory against Torre to boost his name in the Philippine MMA scene.

The Torre-Serenio duel is one of the supporting bouts of the slambang card headlined by Cebu-based British fighter Cris "Lindol" Brooks of Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu, who will lock up horns with Davaoeño Lloyd Abucayan of Mindanao's Beefit Pythons Pit for the vacant GPC heavyweight crown.

Tickets are priced at P200 for the upperbox, P400 for the lowerbox, P750 for the ringside and P1,500 for the VIP seats. For reservations and further information, one may call 255-8919, 255-1405 or call/txt 0932-4524999. (FREEMAN)