PXC releases full lineup for April 8 card

MANILA, Philippines – Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) has booked 5 more bouts for its 16th venture on Philippine soil on April 8 at Solaire Resort and Casino’s luxurious Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.

The Guam-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization announced the additional matches on Wednesday, March 23 through its official Facebook page.

Leading the pack of prizefighters is Filipino-Kiwi prospect Mark Abelardo, who takes on South Korea’s Han Bin Park in a 3-round bantamweight contest.

Abelardo (12-4) had a busy campaign in 2015, receiving 5 fights in 3 different MMA promotions.

It was not a clean sweep for Abelardo as he yielded to Trevin Jones via unanimous decision in August of that year.

However, the 24-year-old native of Auckland, New Zealand managed to conclude his 2015 on a winning note by thumping Guam’s Roman Alvarez via second-round stoppage last December.

On the other hand, Park (6-3) was last seen in action when he suffered a third-round technical knockout loss at the hands of reigning PXC bantamweight champion Kwan Ho Kwak in their August 2015 rematch under the South Korea-based Top FC umbrella.

Prior to his second setback to Kwak, Park was riding high on a 4-fight winning streak, attaining victories by either knockout or submission.

The 21-year-old Korean is no stranger to facing combatants with Filipino blood inside PXC’s Terror Dome as he fought homegrown talents Crisanto Pitpitunge and Rolando Gabriel Dy in the past.

Park pulled off a come-from-behind submission triumph over Pitpitunge in November 2013, while he dropped a unanimous decision to Dy in March 2014.

Aside from the aforementioned match-up, Team Lakay’s Stephen Loman (5-2) battles Ernie Braca (2-2) in a bantamweight showdown.

Adamson Torbiso (1-1) faces Uzbekistani flyweight Farmon Gafarov (3-1), while Rex De Lara (3-5) squares off with Australia’s Darwin Sagurit (4-3).

Adam Cacay (4-3) makes his PXC return after nearly a 3-year absence to meet Norwegian flyweight Anton Larsson (2-0).

PXC officials publicly confirmed Glen Ranillo’s comeback bout against Australian lightweight Aydin Mrouki.

PXC 53 is headlined by a welterweight championship clash between current titleholder Zebastian Kadestam and Finland’s Glenn Sparv.

Rolando Gabriel Dy locks horns with Japanese featherweight Koyomi Matsushima in the co-main event, while Jon Chris Corton will slug it out with Hawaiian flyweight Riley Dutro. – Rappler.com