UFC ace fighter trains Baroni vs Japanese

MANILA, Philippines - Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight contender Mike Swick is in town to train Phil Baroni in the ONE Fighting Championship: Rise to Power set this Friday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

The 33-year-old Swick, nicknamed in the UFC as “Quick” for his uncanny ability to finish opponents in easy fashion, is helping Baroni, a former UFC fighter himself, train as he gears up for his bout with Japanese Nobutatsu Suzuki in what promises to be a blockbuster fight.

“Just cornering Phil (Baroni),” Swick told The STAR on his Twitter account @officialswick yesterday.

Baroni also had a training session with another former UFC fighter in British-Iranian Kamal Shalorus, who will slug it out with Filipino wushu champion Eduard Folayang of Team Lakay in the same fightcard of the ONE FC.

“Phil is in his best shape while it was my first time to meet Kamal. Great wrestler and also in great shape,” said Swick.

Swick, who has fashioned out victories in less than a minute, said he would love to see Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in person.

He even asked The STAR if Pacquiao would grace yesterday’s final day of Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino which the boxing icon is sponsoring since he also stays at the same hotel in Pasay City.

“Is Manny Pacquiao here on the final day?” Swick asked The STAR.

Unfortunately for Swick, Pacquiao, who graced the event earlier in the week, had a prior commitment and was in Davao yesterday.