CEBUANO striker Tonix Borres takes on hometown bet Mark Balaba in one of the featured fights of “Iligan Beatdown 3” MMA and Muay Thai show at the La Salle Academy Gym in Iligan City on Saturday night, Sept. 21, 2019.

“He has a karate background, he has a ground game and this is their promotion,” Borres told SunStar Cebu. “He is a tough opponent and has a good record.”

Borres is known for his striking because of his boxing-based background. However, he has constantly been working on his ground game at his gym—JB Fitness Center.

“I’ve been working on my ground. I’m more confident on the ground,” he said. “I will stand up and strike with and compete with him on the ground if it goes there.”

Borres is 5-1 in MMA, while Balaba is 8-3.

The main event features MUMMA Team CDO’s Emman Davis against David Morata of Panabo Top Team, while Rosauro Sagun of Equilibrium Muay Thai faces off with Limbert Gitbolingo of Dipolog Top Team.

Two other Cebuanos are seeing action in the undercard—Edmund Vergara and Isaac Dela Cruz of Black Panther MMA.

Vergara trades blows with Lowell Bertudazo of Equilibrium Muay Thai, while Dela Cruz locks horns with Dave Limbag of Outcast Camp Malaybalay City. (EKA)