MARK Striegl is relishing the opportunity to be in the same card as compatriot Brandon Vera, a reunion of sorts in ONE: Spirit of Champions on December 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Both Filipino-American fighters, who banner the final offering of Asia’s top mixed martial arts organization for the year, are reunited after training together a for a short while a few years back at Alliance MMA in San Diego.
“Fighting the same card now is super exciting,” Striegl said in the press launch on Wednesday. “Things have gone full circle.”
Although admitting he forgot when they linked up, Vera still remembers how skillful the 27-year-old Striegl was.
“I don’t remember when, but I do remember him being as good as hell, so it was awesome,” Vera said of the rising star who now trains under Evolve MMA in Singapore.
Striegl, who has won all but one of his 15 fights, faces a tough test in Austrlian Jordan Lucas, who’s unbeaten in eight bouts.
“He’s a tough fighter,” the 5-foot-8 bantamweight said. “He’s eight-and-o for a reason, which means he’s definitely talented.”
“But no one’s going to beat me in Manila in front of my hometown fans,” the Baguio native was quick to add. “He’s never fought a guy that’s going to put the kind of pressure that I’m going to put on.”
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