Fil-Ams to fire up PXC 33

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Ams Harris Sarmiento and Mark Striegl hope to provide the action and thrill in the absence of John Tuck and local bet Ali Cali as they headline the Pacific X-Treme Combat (PXC) 33 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City on Saturday.

Tuck sustained a knee injury two weeks in his much-awaited title fight with old buddy Sarmiento and will be replaced by Korean Seung Hwa Han of ICT, who agreed to take over after getting a call from PXC CEO and promoter EJ Calvo.

Cali, who became the first Filipino champion after beating Guam’s Jesse Taitano in a flyweight title fight at PXC 29 early in the year, fractured a nose bone also in training.

The undefeated Striegl, whose mother Sonia Martinez is from Calapan Oriental, Mindoro, will go up against Guam’s Robert Wustigg, who is coming a two-fight streak to improve to 5-4 (win-loss).

“Things like this happen, we even had four headline bouts cancelled because our featured fighters there got injured during preparation,” said Calvo, in yesterday’s event launch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City.

“But the new bouts are equally exciting, I have to give it to Harris (Sarmiento) and Han for accepting the fight,” he added.

Meanwhile, legendary MMA referee Big John McCarthy will not only work on a couple of matches but will also hold clinics for local MMA referees.

The event was also attended by Sports 5 big boss Vitto Lazatin, who said the PXC33 will be shown live on AKTV on IBC 13.

“We expect nothing less than exciting mixed martial arts action on Saturday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City and we will show it live on AKTV on IBC 13,” said Lazatin.

PXC 33 is presented by San Mig Strong Ice and Sports 5 and supported by e-Games, Holiday Inn Manila galleria, Fitness First, FHM Philippines, FHM.com.ph, Premiere Condoms, Healthway Agility Phl, Beer Below Zero, Real Sports Radio, Loqal.ph, SM Tickets and Ticketworld.

For more information about PXC 33, check out www.pxc.com.ph, facebook.com/pxcmma or twitter/pxcphilippines.