MANILA, Philippines - Jang Yong Kim used his vaunted ground game to dominate Filipino submission specialist Mark Striegl at PXC 39 and win the vacant PXC featherweight world title at the Ynares Sports Arena Saturday night.
Striegl actually took control early and took down Kim with his ground skills to the delight of the jampacked crowd. But the Korean recovered and countered every submission attempt by the Filipino fighter to prevail.
It was Jang’s second crack at the crown after falling short in the PXC 32 last July 2012 while Striegl took his first defeat.
The Korea Top Team captain wore down the Fight Corps MMA fighter with small shots, grabbing the Striegl’s left arm for a Kimura attempt in the second round.
Striegl, who hasn’t gone beyond the first round in his previous wins, lost steam in the third round with Kim’s scissor leg lock of Striegl’s head forcing the latter to eventually tap out.
In the co-main event of the night, Hawaii’s Louis Smolka moved up to the 135-lb division and submitted his Filipino opponent Jessie Rafols with a rear naked choke early in the first round. Smolka is in line for a title shot at the PXC flyweight (125lb) belt currently held by Ale Cali, now the lone Filipino PXC world title holder.
Team Lakay fighters, meanwhile, shared the spotlight as Roldan Sancha-an and Harold Banario won via submissions. Sancha-an defeated Ernesto Montilla Jr with a rear naked choke and Banario with an armbar versus Adamson Torbiso.
Rolando Dy, son of the former Pinoy boxer Rolando Navarette, showed off his striking skills and beat Guamanian Kyle Reyes in their featherweight bout via unanimous decision.
Swedish welterweight Zabastian Kadestam of Legacy Gym in Boracay improved to 2-0 in the PXC after knocking out Ross Ebanez in the first round. Glen Ranillo won via decision over Isaiah Ordiz while Jinel Lausa made a successful PXC debut with a win against Adam Cacay.