FOR most people, the holiday season is a welcome development, a time to relax from the daily stress of work.
For others, particularly mixed martial artists preparing for a big, historic fight, it's definitely a distraction.
Lakay coach Mark Sangiao admitted the training of Dave Galera, who is set to become the first homegrown Filipino to step into the Ultimate Fighting Championship stage, is being affected by the Christmas season.
“Okay lang naman. Yung nga lang, medyo distorbo ‘tong (holiday season),” Sangiao told Spin.ph on Thursday. “Maraming activites lang ngayon dahil sa holiday kaya medyo na-di-distract siya.”
Galera, who is in the tail-end of a two-month training for his UFC debut against Royston Wee in UFC Fight Night 34 on January 4 in Singapore, only had half-day training sessions in Baguio on December 24 and on Christmas day so he could understandably spend time with his family.
Sangiao said the 35-year-old Galera’s weight is still between 68 and 66 kilos, still a few pounds away from the 61.2-kilo (135-pound) bantamweight limit.
And did the expected eating binge during the Noche Buena worry the coach?
“Actually hindi naman kasi habang nag-ha-hard (training), dapat marami siyang kainin -- pero pili lang,” Sangiao said of Galera, whose diet nowadays consists more of carbohydrates and protein.
Sangiao added making weight is not a problem for the pride of Baguio, who is slated to start cutting weight on Sunday when he loosens up his training.
“Walang problema dun. Kung talagang kukunin niya, makukuha niya.”
After spending Christmas in the country, the fighter and coach will celebrate the New Year abroad as they are set to fly to Singapore on Tuesday (December 31) afternoon.
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