NANGIBABAW ang bilis at diskarte ni Joevincent ‘Good Boy’ So kontra Franz ‘Romance’ Galvez tungo sa split decision win sa three-rounder flyweight clash ng Cage Gladiators X Hitman na inorganbisa ng pamosong mixed martial arts fighter na sina Burn Soriano and Laurence Canavan sa Pop Up Katipunan sa Quezon City.
"Being the winner of this event is a very huge opportunity for me. Cage Gladiators and Hitman MMA treat the fighters well. I attempted a submission and did not give him any time to recover. You got to give it to Franz. I tried to finish him for a submission. I wanted to take him via my submission game but he is a tougher wrestler. Hopefully, if we have a rematch I wrestle him out," pahayag ni So.
"Hindi ko ineexpect na ganoon siya sa una. Grabe yung cardio niya, conditioning niya.Sa Round 3 naubos ako. Siya ang pinakamahirap na nakalaban ko. Sa sarili ko ako nanalo pero, respeto sa kalaban ko," sambit naman ni Galvez.
Sa co-main event, ginapi ni Johnny "Young Gun" Merto ang liyamdong si "Dragon King" Tabaranza via guillotine choke sa second round.
"Gusto ko talagang mapasukan na organization is UFC kasi bibihira lang ang mga Pilipino doon nanakaka-angat. Gusto ko makilala ang Pilipino, and ako, kumbaga gusto ko makilala as (Manny) Pacquiao ng MMA. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Cage Gladiators at Hitman MMA. Napasokako dito sa MMA at minahal ko siya. Ito ang pinakang focus ko. I am thankful for my mama and my coaches, sila ang humubog sa akin kaya ako nandito," sambit ni Merto.
Ang panalo nina So at Merto ang tampok sa 10 laban na nakalinya sa promosyon na naglalayong palakasin ang local MMA.
"I'm so happy. All of the fans enjoyed the fight, and all of the fighters will get compensated and that's what we want. We are gonna go every month. We are going to do it. I want everyone to be happy, from the fighters, to the crowd, to everyone involved,” sambit ni Cage Gladiators/Hitman MMA's Burn Soriano.
Ang Cage Gladiators/Hitman MMA ay binuo ni CEO and Founder Anthony Canavan, isang Irish Ranger 2nd Regiment Cobra Coy Division at undefeated military kickboxing champion, sa hangarin na maipromote ang sports at matulungan ang mga local fighter.
"Local MMA, we have been here since 2007. We are here for the fighters and that is the truth. We do these events for the fighters," ayon kay Soriano.
Matapos ang matagumpay na promosyon, nakatakda isunod ng Cage Gladiators x Hitman MMA ang susunod na big fight sa Marso 22.