Another PXC champion gets call-up to UFC, makes debut in October

MANILA, Philippines – Another Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) champion is directing his career-path to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as Australian fighter Alex Volkanovski will have his promotional debut in the organization’s second live Philippine event on October 15.

Volkanovski replaces French stalwart Mehdi Baghdad to face Guam’s Jon Tuck in a 3-round lightweight bout on the undercard of UFC Fight Night Manila 2, which takes place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Baghdad pulled out of the match due to an undisclosed injury. UFC officials found a replacement in Volkanovski, who is the reigning PXC featherweight titleholder.

Volkanovski (13-1) was supposed to defend the PXC silver-plated strap against Pinoy contender Rolando Gabriel Dy this month, but the title tilt was postponed and moved to November.

The 27-year-old Australian is riding high on a 9-fight winning streak, with 9 victories via stoppage.

Volkanovski, who hails from New South Wales, Australia, won the PXC featherweight belt by dethroning Yusuke Yachi via fourth-round submission in December 2015.

Prior to his title-winning performance versus Yachi, Volkanovski captured the Australian Fighting Championship’s available featherweight trinket by trouncing New Zealand’s James Bishop via first-round technical knockout.

Volkanovski has to relinquish his possession of the featherweight title as he joins the likes of former PXC champions Hyun Gyu Lim, Louis Smolka, Michinori Tanaka and Jenel Lausa in the UFC roster.

Meanwhile, Tuck has won 3 of his 6 Octagon outings since his first Octagon appearance in 2012.

The 32-year-old Guamanian is no stranger to Filipino mixed martial arts fans as he had a brief stint in PXC, scoring a highlight-reel victory over Filipino-American stalwart Tristan Arenal by way of first-round knockout in November 2011.

Tuck also infamously handed Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang his first career loss with an 8-second blowout in November 2008 under the Gorilla Warfare banner.

Known by the moniker “Super Saiyan,” Tuck is looking to bounce back at the expense of Volkanovski as he is coming off a split decision setback to Josh Emmett last May.

UFC Fight Night Manila 2 is headlined by a scheduled 5-round featherweight clash between BJ Penn and Ricardo Lamas.

The event will also feature Lausa’s UFC debut as he is set to lock horns with Chinese combatant Yao Zhikui in a 3-round flyweight contest. – Rappler.com