CRISANTO Pitpitunge returns to Brave Combat Federation hoping to get back into his winnings ways after a forgetful debut.

Pitpitunge was signed to compete in the upcoming Brave 16 against Hamza Kooheji at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE on September 21.

The Team Lakay fighter who is also a police officer of the Police Regional Office- Cordillera initially saw action in March earlier this year when he squared off against Jalal Al Daja via a first round triangle choke.

It was a sorry loss for the former PXC bantamweight champion after promising victory in October last year against Ralf Noy Francisco of D' Elements MMA in the main event of Team Lakay Championship 14 at the Baguio Convention Center.

Having won nine of his 15 bouts, Pitpitunge hopes to bounce back and get his streak going despite juggling time as a policeman and a professional MMA fighter.

“At first, balancing MMA with police duty was a bit challenging, but with wise time management, I got used to it now,” Pitpitunge said.

The Kapangan, Benguet native graduated Criminology from the University of Cordilleras came from a poor family surviving on one meal a day. Eventually Coach Mark Sangiao introduced him to MMA and developed a high level of discipline and changed the life of Pitpitunge.

Fellow Team Lakay John Cris Corton meanhwile will make his promotional debut when he takes on another new comer in Hussein Ayyad, a former International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) medalist.

Corton last saw action in October last year stopping of Jhunior Diapolit of D' Elements MMA in the co- main event of Team Lakay Championship 14 after his three round unanimous decision loss against Riley Dutro in April 2016.

The main event will feature welterweight title contest between Carlston Harris from Guyana defending his title against Jordanina Jarrah Al Selawe.

In the co-main event, reigning featherweight king Elias Boudegzdame from Algeria will defend his title for the second time against 2011 NCAA Champion and Bellator veteran Bubba Jenkins of the USA.

Fighter who will see action in the main card are 10 time IBJJF World Champion Bruno Malfacine of Brazil facing Cristian Rodriguez of the USA at flyweight.

Mohammad Fakhreddine of Lebanon will make his return against Gadzhimusa Gaziev while undefeated Tunisian fighter Mounir Lazzez will make his promotional debut against Sweden’s Dmitrijs Homjakovs. (Roderick Osis)