MMA action explodes today in Pacific X-treme 29

Written by : JOSEF T. RAMOS
Manila Times

Ale Cali (left) and Guam’s Jesse Taintano PHOTO COURTESY OF PXC 29

AFTER three wins in four fights, Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Ale Cali is inching closer to becoming a champion when he battles Guam’s Jesse Taintano today for the flyweight crown of the Pacific X-treme Combat (PXC) 29 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Cali, who started as a boxer said he is ready to pit his striking prowess against Taintano’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills.

“I’m excited but a little bit nervous because every fight, my opponent is getting tougher and stronger. I have a lot of respect to Jesse because he’s a good fighter but I’ll do my best,” said Cali.

The 34-year-old grappler from Guam expressed total confidence in facing the Filipino boxer.

“He’s a boxer, but this is MMA and this is different. I like to box. I’d rather box than wrestle, actually. It’s supposed to be a five-round fight, but I’m going try to end it in the first round,” Taintano said.

Taintano has a fight record of seven wins, eight losses and two draws while Cali has three wins and a loss with two knockouts under his belt.

In the other main event bout, Harris Sarmiento from Hawaii meets Tiger Muay Thai member Raja Shippen of Southern California for the lightweight title. PXC organizers also announced that Filipino-American MMA star Mark Muñoz will be on Shippen’s corner during his fight with Sarmiento. Muñoz is set to hold a fight clinic on February 19 at Gold’s Gym Libis, Quezon City.

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