AMID the defeaning blare of techno music, Crisanto “The Slugger” Pitpitunge stepped into the octagon tense but determined.
Then Pitpitunge floored Justin Cruz with one vicious blow the chin early in the opening round to strip the bantamweight title from the Guamanian and become the second Filipino champion in the Pacific Xtreme Combat Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The wushu expert from Baguio City’s Team Lakay sneaked in the heavy right after Cruz delivered a punch that left himself vulnerable from the head down.
Cruz, a freestyle expert in his first title defense, fell face first and stayed that way for two minutes after the referee waived him out.
“I was tense when I got in there. I know how good he is so I patiently waited for the opening,” said Pitpitunge, who improved his MMA record to 5-1 while pinning a fifth defeat on Cruz in 23 fights.
The opportunity for Pitpitunge came just over a minute after they touched gloves.
Pitpitunge pummeled Cruz with more right hands after sending him to the floor and that didn’t sit well with referee Tony D’Angelo, who pulled and berated the new Pinoy PXC champion in his corner.
Flyweight champion Ale Cali became the first Filipino PXC crown holder after beating Jesse Taitano of Guam in PXC 29 also co-organized by AKTV early this year.
Filipino-American Tristan Arenal also treated the crowd to an admirable show of courage and patience by submitting a more buffed and stronger Ritchie Redman in an armbar to win in the third round.
In another undercard, Rolando Gabriel Dy finished off Guamanian Alde Alonzo De Zosa with a rear naked choke, 3:08 in the second round, in the 145 lb class.