MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Ams Harris Sarmiento and Mark Streigl lived up to the hype and downed their respective rivals in contrasting fashion in the Pacific X-treme Combat 33 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig Saturday night.
Sarmiento ran into a tough and game Seung Hwa Han of Korea, a last-minute replacement to John Tuck who strained a knee during training, and escaped with a split decision in a three-round non-title bout.
Sarmiento imposed his will early, landing some crisp, powerful punches that rocked and hurt but never fell Seung. But those proved enough to get two of the three judges’ nod to improve his win-loss record to a 35-23.
Seung absorbed his first loss after winning his first three fights. He, however, impressed the fight fans with his killer knees and kicks that stung his more experienced opponent.
“He’s tough but I got to bring the fight to him from the start,” said Sarmiento.
Streigl, on the other hand, scored a quick, spectacular submission win over Guam’s Robert Wustigg via Americana lock early in the opening round.
The win extended Streigl’s unbeaten streak to 10 and should be in line to become the third Filipino PXC champion next to boxer-turned-mixed martial arts fighter Ali Cale and Crisanto Pitpitunge of Team Lakay.
“I’m proud fighting for you my countrymen, it’s an honor to win in front of you,” said Streigl, whose mother Sonia Martinez is from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
The US’ Russel Doane, fighting out of 808 Top Team, pulled off a close unanimous decision over Japanese Masato Sannai.
Other winners in the PXC 33 were the Phl’s Arex Montalban, Isiah Ordiz, Jerome Wanawan and Eugene Toquero, Guam’s Jon delos Reyes and South Korea’s Hong Seung Chan.
Popular Big John McCarthy refereed half of the match and conducted some clinics before the fights while Mike “Quick” Swick of the Ultimate Fighting Championship graced the star-studded MMA affair.
The PXC 33 was presented by San Mig Strong Ice and Sports 5 and backed by e-Games, Sting Energy Drink, 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 Ticketworld and Ticketworld.