DESPITE the dominating win by Pacific X-treme Combat flyweight champion Ale ‘The Young Gun’ Cali against comebacking MMA veteran Erwin Tagle, his fans back home were turned off by his grandstanding antics.
The 21-year old Davao City native, taunting and showboating through the one-sided fight, scored a dominant third round stoppage win in Saturday’s main event of PXC 34 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“He is a very talented fighter but his antics turn me off. He is a braggart and that’s not good for a champion,” said EDGE Davao editorial consultant and sports aficionado Ram Maxey who watched Cali’s fight on television.
Cali scoffed, mocked, and did some Muhammad Ali shuffle over the hapless Tagle, considred an MMA legend in the country.
Tagle, 34, held his own in the face of the vicious attack by Cali, a hard-hitting boxer. By the second round, the challenger was hurt and bloodied by Cali’s power-punching.
He entered the third gasping as the champion taunted and toyed with him en route to the stoppage win.
Another mixed martial art follower said Cali did not conduct himself well that night.
“Pangit tingnan, ang yabang niya. Gusto ko nga matamaan sana at matalo kasi ang yabang talaga,” said the MMA fanatic.
Cali was awarded recently by the So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation for his accomplishments during the annual recognition of athletes in Davao City.
He was also feted during the City Government-initiated sports recognition early this year.
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