SPORTS writer Lemuel Maglinte will relish every bit of moment in his last fight as an MMA fighter.
“I want to savor every second of it,” Maglinte said of his strawweight fight with former pro pug Rodel Calbog in one of the undercard bouts of Cebu Extreme Fight League (CEFL) - “No Way Out” this Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum. “This is important because if this is indeed my last then I want to go out with a win.”
Though a long layoff, Maglinte said that he’s in tip top shape and is ready to put on a show for his swan song.
“In my layoff I have been keeping myself in shape with BJJ,” he said. “It’s going to be either a short impressive win or a long fight but bell to bell.”
Maglinte made his MMA debut in 2012 with first round stoppage against Zoren Pescador. He followed it up with another win the following year, a opening round rear-naked choke win over John Edu Torbiso. The 28-year-old Maglinte last saw action in 2015 with a second round stoppage.
Calbog of My Gym MMA in Dumaguete City is a former pro boxer that has a 0-1 record.
Maglinte is confident that he can hang with Calbog in the striking department after preparing for this fight with former URCC fighter Leo Gaerlan.
“I will mix it up. I will try to measure his stand up game and if he is strong then I will take it to the ground,” he said.
The main event features a clash of two veteran MMA fighters - Roel Rosauro of Yaw-Yan Ardigma against XFC MMA Butuan’s Urtych Alarin.
Arnel Ylanan of Deftac Vagabond Cebu locks horns with Yaw-Yan Olongapo’s Romel Lugo.
Mactan Combat Sports’ Nino Rio Saoy faces off with Ivan Rodley Victorio of Yaw-Yan Olongapo.
The special attraction women’s bout between wushu standout Mariane Mariano and American Andre Erickson was cancelled.