Pitpitunge’s career still on even with entry into PNP

EVEN HIS entry to the national police force will not stop Crisanto Pitpitunge from continuing his career in mix martial arts.

In fact, following his big win in the Pacific X-treme Challenge for the international bantamweight title July 14, Pitpitunge went straight back to the Philippine Public Safety College- Cordillera Administrative Region Training School in Teachers Camp.

“After the fight, we barely had any celebration because we have to go back here to Baguio so I can report to the police training camp,” said the newly minted Team Lakay champion in local dialect.

The 25 year old Kapangan, Benguet native added although he had signed up for the PNP, he will still seek several fights with a possible title defense come November before he hangs-up his MMA gloves.

“I hope the PNP would once again let me train when I fight because my training here inside the police camp and with MMA is different,” added University of the Cordilleras Criminology graduate.

Pitpitunge knocked out Guam's Justin Cruz to wrest the bantamweight crown landing several combination of power punches including that vicious straight which ended the fight in the first round of action.

Pitpitunge nailed his third straight win in the PXC and fourth overall in five fights as a mixed martial artist and became the second Filipino to win a title in the PXC after flyweight Ale Cali, who beat Guam’s Jesse Taitano in PXC 29 early in the year.

Another Guam fighter, Trevin Jones of Underworld Extreme Gym (also based in Guam), is expected to challenge Pitpitunge this November, according to coach Mark Sangiao.

The police trainee added he eyes at least four to five more fights in the span of two years before rethinking his plan as police work might impede his mma fights.

“I love MMA, it was my life before I entered the police force,” quipped Pitpitunge at the Teachers Camp where some of his fellow Team Lakay were present to hold a victory party with members of the PPSC –CARTS. Roderick Osis