Arenal, Tuck clash in Pac X-treme tiff

MANILA, Philippines - The PXC (Pacific X-treme Combat) 28 will be held Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Kapitolyo, Pasig City with rising Filipino MMA star Tristan Arenal going up against Abu Dhabi grappling champ Jon Tuck.

UFC superstar Brandon Vera graces the event as a special guest of honor.

The PXC, the mixed martial arts organization based in Guam, drew huge crowds when it made its debut here this year with the PXC 24 last June and the PXC 26 last August.

Its television partnership with AKTV on IBC13 has instantly made it as the country’s top MMA show. The fights are aired live and watched by millions of Filipino viewers as well as an international audience.

“The PXC has established itself as a leading martial arts company and we are poised for continued expansion and growth in the Philippines,” said PXC promoter and general manager, EJ Calvo, who is also raring to see the first home-grown Filipino fighter go up to the highest level of the sport.

“We want PXC to be the driving force behind raising the bar for mixed martial arts in the Philippines, and Asia. The PXC is the only event in the Philippines that has actually had fighters come through our ranks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC),” Calvo said.

The PXC head is also excited with the prospect of having an amateur league next year. The aim is to have other fighters follow in the footsteps of Filipino UFC fighters like Vera and Mark Muñoz.

In fact, Vera has frequented PXC as a coach for teammates from the US. He will again attend the upcoming PXC in Manila to show his support for the sport.

“It is extremely important that PXC not only recruits MMA talent, we need to develop the sport as well in the Philippines,” said Calvo.

 This is what makes the level of competition higher than other shows in the region,” Calvo shared.

PXC also recently landed in the pages of FIGHT! magazine, the most respected and influential publication in the mixed martial arts world. The recognition in the September 2011 issue of the magazine establishes PXC as one of the top MMA tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region.

PXC 28 is presented by AKTV and San Mig Strong Ice. Tickets are available at Ticketworld (ticketworld.com.ph <http://ticketworld.com.ph>  ) starting for as low as Php 350 with one free beer.