PH fighter Lausa’s UFC debut pushed to November in Melbourne

Homegrown MMA fighter Jenel Lausa meets Sen. Manny Pacquiao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The much-waited debut of Filipino fighter Jenel “The Demolition Man” Lausa in the UFC has been moved next month at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.

Lausa will compete in the Octagon for the first time on Nov. 27 against Yao “The Conqueror” Zhikui of China as part of the undercard of the Luke Rockhold-Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza headliner in UFC Fight Night Melbourne.

The flyweight bout between Lausa and Zhikui was supposed to be held on Oct. 15 in Manila before the event was postponed last week following the withdrawal of BJ Penn due to a rib injury.

The 28-year-old Lausa was a former boxing champion turned mixed martial artist.

Before landing a deal with the UFC, the Iloilo native made a name for himself in the MMA scene as a flyweight champion in the Pacific Xtreme Combat.

Lausa owns 6-2 record and has won his last four fights.