MANILA, Philippines – After productively putting himself back on the winning track four months ago, former Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) bantamweight titlist Crisanto Pitpitunge seeks to conclude the year with two-straight wins as he is scheduled to square off with Rambaa Somdet on the undercard of PXC 46 on November 15.
Pitpitunge (6-3) recently snapped his two-fight losing skid by defeating Josh Duenas by way of unanimous decision at PXC 44 in June 2014.
After dropping the bantamweight belt to Michinori Tanaka in May 2013 and then succumbing to Han Bin Park’s come-from-behind submission victory six months later, the 5-foot-6 Team Lakay representative opted to move down to flyweight (125 lbs).
In his initial flyweight appearance, Pitpitunge put the shimmer back in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career as he pummeled Duenas in three rounds and had the clear advantage in the stand-up department from bell to bell, picking up the judges’ undivided vote of 30-27 marks across the panel.
On the opposite end, Somdet (12-2) is a 40-year-old Thai kickboxer, who is known for his stints in MMA organizations such as Shooto, DEEP and Palace Fighting Championship.
Somdet captured the Shooto flyweight championship in November 2009 by thumping Noboru Tahara via unanimous decision before successfully defending the title against Hiroyuki Abe by doctor stoppage in July 2010.
However, Somdet has not competed since October 2013 when he outpointed Kenichi Sawada under the banner of the Grabaka promotion in Japan.
Recognized for his moniker “M-16” due to his lightning-fast striking ability, Somdet made his promotional debut in August 2013 at PXC 38, where he submitted Filipino fighter Rabin Catalan with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Somdet was originally penciled to vie for the vacant flyweight strap versus Pitpitunge’s teammate Roldan Sangcha-an at last March’s PXC 43, but he was forced to pull out of the title tilt after suffering a herniated disc in training.
Aside from the Pitpitunge-Somdet pairing, two more bouts have been added to the aforementioned fight card, which takes place at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila.
Gina Iniong (3-1) meets Cortney Casey (2-1) in a three-round strawweight tussle, while flyweight contender Ernesto Montilla Jr. (4-2) battles World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce veteran Alvin Cacdac (14-10).
PXC 46 is headlined by Pinoy combatant Glen Ranillo taking on Chuji Kato for the vacant lightweight championship. – Rappler.com
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