AHEAD of their Brave Combat Federation (CF) matches, the trio of Crisanto Pitpitunge, Jon Chris Corton and Vaughn Donayre paid a brief courtesy call to the Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates
Pitpitunge and Corton, who are both from Team Lakay Benguet will be fighting Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji (bantamweight) and Hussain Ayyad (flyweight) respectively in the undercard of Brave 16 slated tonight, September 21 at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Donayre, who hails from Cebu will be up against Brazil’s Flavio Serafin in a catch weight bout.
The three fighters, together with their coaches were invited to the embassy and met the Ambassador of Philippines to the UAE, Her Excellency Hjayceelyn Quintana.
“This is part of our people to people diplomacy to make sure that our Emirati friends know that we are one with them in terms of promoting solidarity through sports. We are very proud that they are representing the Philippines here and hopefully we can also mobilise our people to see the event on Friday.” said Quintana.
Pitpitunge, who is also a police officer of the Police Regional Office- Cordillera, 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.
Corton will make his promotional debut who 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. (Roderick Osis)