In a night where Pacific Xtreme Combat lost their two championship bouts, all of the fighters performed beyond expectation to produce one of the most hard-hitting shows to give the Philippine audience a night to remember.
To cap the night, Team Lakay’s Crisanto Pitpitunge vindicated his status as a top fighter in the PXC’s stacked flyweight division in making short work of Filipino-American Alvin Cacdac. In the co-main event, Kyle Aguon displayed his wrestling game in grinding out rival Rolando Dy to put an end to their rivalry. Moreover, the undercard delivered with only one match heading into the scorecards; including an epic come-from-behind knockout win by Team Insider’s Jinel Lausa.
Here is the recap of PXC 48: Cacdac vs. Pitpitunge
Pitpitunge makes quick work of Cacdac
Team Lakay’s Flyweight standout Crisanto Pitpitunge, with the PXC Flyweight Championship vacant, made an emphatic statement in securing a quick knockout win over fallen champion Alvin Cacdac.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5OLmIiWejo
“The Slugger” circled the terror dome to open the match as he weaved his way with stinging jabs. As Cacdac found his footing, Pitpitunge’s constant motion set up a huge overhand right that made the Filipino-American fall to both of his knees. Another huge right knocked the senses out of the former champion. The win moves Pitpitunge to 8-3 while the MMA journeyman falls to 15-11.
After the match, Pitpitunge was humble in victory. Moreover, his gameplan was to counter the game plan of Cacdac, “yung last opponent ko striker [Rambaa Somdet] so I had to work on my wrestling, this time wrestler kalaban so I had to train extensively sa striking,” the police/fighter told us.
“Bahala na ang PXC sa next opponent ko. Basta ako I’m ready and I’ll train,” he closed.
Aguon puts an end to rivalry
Guam-based fighter Kyle Aguon displayed great wrestling in grinding out a surprising split decision win over Rolando Dy.
Prior to the fight Aguon was disappointed that Dy did not make weight to make the fight a five-round fight. “I trained hard to be in shape for a five round fight. It’s really frustrating since I sacrificed a lot to stay in weight only to find out that my opponent did not,” the Spike 22 standout told us prior to the fight.
Aguon took his frustrations out on the Davao-based fighter in their match. Aguon was aggressive all throughout in shooting for takedowns. In contrast to their first encounter, the PXC Bantamweight champion did not try to exchange with Dy. Dy had few glimpses to shine in the match in the first round but was overpowered by Aguon the rest of the way. Dy was able to land a huge forearm shot that led to a cut above the right ear of Aguon. Aguon though quickly recovered and was able to get a takedown. The champion was on top the entire way. Aguon won the match by Split Decision 30-27, 29-28, 30-27.
“I know his a good striker, that’s why I went with my wrestling. I have a great camp that focuses on wrestling, we have champion coaches,” Aguon told us about his technical approach to the match.
Night of first round finishes
It was a night of impressive finishes with all but one fight reaching the second round.
The highlight of the night was an impressive come-from-behind knockout win by Jinel Lausa. After being dominated in the majority of the first round by Ernesto Montilla, a failed attempt for a takedown by the Team Insider member led to a stand-up exchange by the two. With just a second to go in the round, Lausa landed a huge overhand left that knocked Montilla out to the cage. The power of the punch even dropped Lausa after landing the shot. “Wala na sa isip ko ang oras nun,” Lauza said when asked about his buzzer-beating performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pplGMDmVFfs
Montilla had to be stretchered out of the arena as he could not stand to head to the nearest hospital. The flyweight had the glazed-eyes look when Tiebreaker Times saw him on the stretcher. According to a representative by My Health Clinic, the medical team for the event, they are fearing that Montilla might have suffered a concussion. “We will do a CT scan on him but his eyes were teary and shaking which is a symptom for a concussion,” the medical representative told us after the event.
The 21 year old prospect from Team Lakay, Harold Banario, was outclassed by Team Quest-Thailand veteran Mark Abelardo in bantamweight action. Banario was aggressive with strikes and takedown attempts to start the match. However, a glancing forearm by Abelardo led to a cut below the left eye of Banario. An overhand right by Abelardo knocked his opponent down and strikes to a turtled up opponent led to the end of the match at the 4:36 mark of the first round. Banario receives his first career loss as a result while Abelardo extends his win streak to seven.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NGgMeckC8s
Another Team Lakay member took home a win in this night as John Cris Corton made rookie Rufino Mante look like he does not belong in the cage. Corton immediately took the former boxer down. After a rear naked choke and kimura attempt by Corton, he flattened the Legacy Gym member out with elbows that led to a stoppage in just the 2:18 mark of the first round. Mante was all bloodied up after the match. Corton is now above .500 in his win-loss record going 3-2.
To open the main card, Team Insider’s Adamson Turbiso knocked out a cocky Nilo Vidal with a headkick in flyweight action. Vidal taunted Turbiso all throughout the fight. While Turbiso landed clean body and leg kicks, Vidal shrugged it off and seemed to taunt his opponent. Turbiso was parrying Vidal with a low shot but instead connected with a head kick at the 4:50 mark. A right punch by Turbiso was landed for good measure to secure the knockout win.
The only letdown of the night was the Roman Alvarez-Ernie Braca bout. The fight started with a great stand-up exchange by the two. The unbeaten Alvarez was able to take his opponent down but was quickly reversed by Braca after a missed elbow attempt by the unbeaten prospect. However, as the two stood up, Braca, with intent, attempted a soccer kick to his opponent. The Legacy Gym member then followed it up with a solid punch to knock Alvarez out. The referee had to wave the match off as a soccer kick is not allowed in the unified rules giving the win to Alvarez, who is now 5-0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnRb3GWw5Es
Catch the telecast of PXC 48 on TV5 at 11:00pm on June 14, 2015
PXC 48: Cacdac vs. Pitpitunge
June 13, 2015 – Ynares Sports Center, Pasig City
Catchweight bout: Crisanto Pitpitunge def. Alvin Cacdac via Knockout (Right hook) at 3:52, Rd 1
Bantamweight bout: Kyle Aguon def. Rolando Dy via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Flyweight bout: Jinel Lausa def. Ernesto Montilla via Knockout (left overhand punch) at 4:59, Rd 1
Bantamweight bout: Mark Abelardo def. Harold Banario via Technical Knockout (ground strikes) at 4:36, Rd 1
Bantamweight bout: Roman Alvarez def. Ernie Braca via Disqualification (Soccer Kick) at 4:33, Rd 1
Flyweight bout: John Cris Corton def. Rufino Mante via Technical Knockout (Elbows) at 2:28, Rd 1
Flyweight bout: Adamson Torbiso def. Nilo Vidal via Knockout (Headkick) at 4:59, Rd 1
Amateur Flyweight bout: Marcelo Cabusas def. Mark Alcoba via Unanimous Decision
Amateur Bantamweight bout: Genil Francisco def. Charles Diao via Submission (Armbar) at 1:45, Rd 1
