Team Lakay bets Iniong, Corton win on PXC 51 undercard

MANILA, Philippines – The sunny colors of Team Lakay shined bright on the undercard of PXC 51 as two of its 3 representatives walked away with remarkable triumphs on Saturday, January 16 at Solaire and Resort Casino’s Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City. 

Gina Iniong submitted Vanessa Rico Fernandez with a heel lock to compel the Spanish fighter to wave the white flag at the 1:57 mark of the first round.

Gina Iniong makes Vanessa Fernandez tap in the first round (1:57 – straight leg lock) #PXC51 pic.twitter.com/wwCs6QSC7n

— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) January 16, 2016

Iniong, who was looking for a toe-to-toe trade with her opponent, was taken down to the canvas by Fernandez’s standing fireman’s carry takeover.

However, Iniong was able to lace up her arms to Fernandez legs as both ladies battled for position on the mat. 

While on the ground, Iniong saw a loophole and grittily twisted her foe’s heel to get the tap that was not seen by referee Donny Elviña at first.

Determined to place herself back on the winning track, Iniong did not leg go of the heel for the fight-ending submission. 

With the impressive victory over Fernandes, Iniong improves to a 4-2 professional standing and wins her first fight since yielding to current UFC strawweight competitor Cortney Casey via first round submission in November 2014.

On the other hand, Fernandez downgrades her prizefighting record to 2-2 and snaps her two-fight winning streak. 

Meanwhile, Jon Cris Corton (4-2) gave Team Lakay its first victory of the night by outpointing Farmon Gafarov (3-1) via unanimous decision with 3 30-27 scores across the panel. 

Although the Uzbekistani stalwart pummeled the Filipino fighters with body kicks and overhand rights in the first frame, Corton had the upper-hand in the second round, where he was able to convert a takedown and managed to latch on a guillotine choke.

Corton unleashed deadly firepower in the third stanza, drilling Gafarov with lashing leg kicks before tripping his counterpart to the floor. 

Writing the final statement of the match-up, Corton maintained a superb top control with hacking elbows to the face of Gafarov.

Although Iniong and Corton were able to get their hands raised in triumph, one Team Lakay fighter failed to hoist the renowned Philippine MMA camp’s flag on the preliminary card of PXC 51. 

URCC alumnus Rex De Lara (3-5) opened the PXC 51 event on a strong note by finishing Team Lakay’s young gun Stephen Loman (5-2) in just 14 seconds.

Rex De Lara finishes Stephen Loman in just 14 seconds with a counter right. #PXC51 pic.twitter.com/2qVkk4Mi1o

— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) January 16, 2016

De Lara shut the lights off on Loman with a counter right cross that landed flush on his foe’s chin and planted the Team Lakay tenderfoot’s face on the mat, giving him the opening to polish his cage counterpart off with follow-up shots to the head to get the quick stoppage. – Rappler.com