Brandon Vera to grace PXC 28 this Saturday

MANILA, Philippines – The Pacifc X-Treme visits the country for the third time this year with the PXC 28 showcasing the much-awaited showdown between Fil-Am Tristan Arenal and Abu Dhabi grappling champ John Tuck this Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

No less than Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Brandon "The Truth" Vera is expected to give the event prestige as he is scheduled to watch the fights, which will be shown live by TV5's sports channel AKTV on IBC 13, as PXC's special guest.

"PXC has established itself as a leading martial arts company and we are poised for continued expansion and growth in the Phl," said PXC promoter and general manager EJ Calvo at today's press conference at Mario's Restaurant in Quezon City.

Also in attendance were PXC's Eli Monge, Vera himself, fighters Arenal and Tuck, and AKTV chief Vito Lazatin, who said AKTV on IBC 13 will continue to be the television partner of the PXC until next year.

"This early, we're looking forward to airing PXC fights on a quarterly basis," said Lazatin. "This is so because we see mixed martial arts as one of the fastest growing sports in the world and its potential is huge for the Filipino audience."

Vera agreed.

"MMA worldwide is growing up. It’s one of the fastest growing sports," said Vera, who has a brace supporting his left arm after undergoing surgery for the injury he sustained in his win over Eliot Marshall in the UFC.

"The UFC is now with Fox, which is pretty much unheard of in the US and in the world. UFC is now alongside the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, and now millions of viewers in the world are watching MMA," he added.

The Arenal-Tuck fight is expected to be close as the two are evenly matched – with excellent standup skills and solid ground and pound game – as the winner goes on to face reigning lightweight champion Harris Sarmiento.

"It’s a big fight, got a good opponent in front of me," said Arenal, who has won all his fights in the first round.

"Tristan is good stand-up fighter so it’s going to be an explosive fight," said Tuck, once-time tormentor of local hero Edward Folayang, who recently won a gold in wushu in the just concluded Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

"Anywhere it goes, it’s going to be an exciting fight. TKO or submission, I'm prepared," he added.