The Pacific Xtreme Combat looks set to invade the Ynares Sports Arena situated in Pasig City, Philippines on May 18th, and has put on a stellar fight card for its 37th event.
PXC 37 will be headlined by a Bantamweight title tilt between defending champion Crisanto Pitpitunge (4-1) and challenger, Michinori Tanaka (7-0). The first semi-final match-up of the Guam-based promotion’s Featherweight tournament will also take place at this event, as South Korea’s Jang Yong Kim (5-5-1) contests Nate Thorell (4-1).
The 2nd Featherweight tournament tilt between the undefeated Mark Striegl (12-0) and Yusuke Yachi (9-3) was originally scheduled to take place at PXC 37 too, but MMASucka.com has confirmed with PXC CEO Edward J. Calvo that both fighters have suffered minor injuries leading up to the event, and as a result the semi-final bout has been pushed forward to an event targeted in August. Calvo, however, remained doubtful over Yachi’s recovery, and has instead tipped former Pancrase champion Takumi Nakayama (17-13-6 [1]) as a possible candidate to fight Striegl in August. Fans can catch Nakayama in action on May 18th at PXC 37 as well, as he squares-off against the Philippines’ Ricardo Sapno (6-1).
Meanwhile, Pitpitunge’s undefeated record under the PXC banner will be in jeopardy as he goes toe-to-toe with a highly touted prospect from Japan. The Filipino fighter hails from the esteemed Team Lakay camp, home to some of the region’s best fighters in the likes of Kevin Belingon and Eduard Folayang. He was last seen at PXC 31, where he recorded a KO victory over Justin Cruz in the 1st stanza.
But Michinori Tanaka may prove to be Pitpitunge’s toughest challenge to date. With an unscathed record of 7-0, Tanaka has already garnered 2 stoppages in his stint PXC thus far. At just 22-years-old, the former Shooto veteran is one of the hottest commodities in the Asian MMA scene, and he will be looking to leave the PXC cage 10-lbs heavier, on May 18th, with the Bantamweight strap around his waist.
Elsewhere on the fight card, the man simply known as ‘The Slasher’, Syafiq Samad (1-0), will be looking to be the first Singaporean to win under the PXC banner, as he takes on Muay Thai specialist, Wesley Machado (3-0). ‘The Slasher’ was originally slated to face Glen Ranillo (2-2), but the latter had to withdraw from proceedings following a broken nose suffered during his training camp.
Keep it locked to MMASucka.com for more news and updates with regards to this event.
As it stands, here’s the full fight card for PXC 37:
- Crisanto Pitpitunge vs. Michinori Tanaka (For PXC Bantamweight strap)
- Jang Yong Kim vs. Nate Thorell (PXC Featherweight Tournament Semi-Final bout)
- Syafiq ‘The Slasher’ Samad vs. Wesley Machado
- Ricardo Sapno vs. Takumi Nakayama
- Jerome Wanawan vs. Ernesto Montilla Jr.
- Troy Bantiag vs. Trevin Jones
- Reno Remigio vs. Hong Seung Chan
- Arex Montalban vs. Rolando Dy
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