MMA: Pitpitunge decisions Duenas at PXC 44

MANILA, Philippines – After falling into a dreadful nightmare last year, one-time PXC bantamweight champion Crisanto Pitpitunge has put the shimmer back in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career as he pummeled Josh Duenas in their three-round clash at PXC 44 on Friday night, June 27 at the University of Guam field house.

Pitpitunge, who was making his debut as a flyweight, had the clear advantage in the stand-up department from bell to bell, picking up the judges’ unanimous vote with 30-27 marks across the panel.

The 5-foot-6 Team Lakay representative toyed with his 21-year-old opponent in the first round with two overhand rights and a follow-up body kick before scoring a single-leg takedown.

From the inside guard, “The Slugger” mauled Duenas with powerful elbows while avoiding possible submission stabs from his cage counterpart.

Burning with the desire to end his agonizing two-fight losing streak, Pitpitunge almost coerced veteran referee Tony D’Angelo to halt the action in the second round, where he trapped Duenas along the fence to hammer a variety of punches and close-quartered knees.

“I thought I can knock him out in that round, but he just kept coming and receiving my shots,” Pitpitunge admitted in his post-fight interview.

As Pitpitunge appeared to lose steam due to his consistent barrage of strikes, Duenas seized the opportunity to nail a jab-straight combination that severely opened a cut on the right eye of the 27-year-old Filipino from Baguio City.

To avoid a come-from-behind upset similar to his bantamweight bout against Han Bin Park at PXC 41 this past November, Pitpitunge remained composed in the third round and resorted to his grappling pedigree, pinning down Duenas on the floor with short elbows until the final bell.

With his victory over Duenas, Pitpitunge wins for the first time since July 2012 and improves his MMA record to 6-3.

“I know that this would be a tough fight that’s why I came ready. I prepared for almost a month for the weight cut. I feel great here at flyweight, and it will be permanent,” he stressed.

On the other hand, Duenas downgrades his win-loss slate to 4-5, dropping five of his last seven outings.

Despite Pitpitunge’s re-entry to the winner’s circle, Troy Bantiag and Josh Sapinoso failed to hoist the Philippine flag aloft as they lost to their foreign opposition on the undercard of PXC 44.

Bantiag, who is also fighting out of Team Lakay, continues his tenure in the losing territory as he was stopped by former title challenger Kyle Aguon with a Kimura lock in the first round.

Meanwhile, Sapinoso bowed down to top Guamanian prospect Kyle Reyes courtesy of a first-round guillotine choke.

Reyes was able to stuff Sapinoso’s takedown attempt and then fastened the fight-ending submission hold to send the young Filipino-American into sleep.

In the main event, Swedish juggernaut Zebaztian Kadestam routed hometown favorite Josh Calvo to capture the vacant PXC welterweight title via unanimous decision.

In other matches, Shooto veteran Yusuke Yachi outwrestled PXC newcomer Ryan Mulvihill in three rounds to claim an undivided verdict from the cageside officials.

Furthermore, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt McKlane Alfred made a quick work on Mark Nuique as he compelled his fellow Saipan native to waive the white flag with a rear-naked choke in the first frame.

Korean Top Team’s Han Seul Kim walked away with a three-round drubbing of Eric Michael Fought, while gritty female flyweight Cortney Casey forced the corner of Tomo Maesawa to throw in the towel in the opening salvo to get the technical knockout.

Robin Eclavea submitted Jeff Mesa with a first-round armbar in their amateur featherweight contest that served as an opening treat of the fight card. – Rappler.com