Striegl looks to finish Australian foe in first round

MANILA, Philippines - His opponent may have changed, but for Filipino-American MMA fighter Mark Striegl, his mindset remains the same.

Striegl was initially supposed to face off against Australia's Jordan Lucas in the co-main event of ONE Championship: Spirit of Champions on December 11 at the Mall of Asia Arena, but Lucas was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an eye injury sustained in training.

Another Australian, Reece McLaren, stepped in to take his place, much to the relief of Striegl.

"It was a little less than two weeks before the fight," Striegl said, when asked when he found out that he had a new opponent. "So it was certainly nerve-wracking."

He holds no ill will towards Lucas – "That happens in this sport," he said of the injury – but is grateful that ONE Championship was able to find a replacement in time.

"I guess I was destined to fight an Australian," he joked Tuesday at the KMA Fitness Gym in Makati. "I'm just thankful that I can still fight in Manila, in the co-main event."

McLaren, like Lucas, is a champion in a local Australian organization, and Striegl says they are "equally dangerous." Nevertheless, his outlook remains unchanged.

"I always look to finish my opponent in the first round," he said. "You'll never see me in a boring fight. So I'm looking to take him out in the first round."

"It's a different opponent, so there are definitely some things you have to change up," he also said. "But a fight is a fight, and that's always my outlook on it. You go into a fight, you have to adapt inside the cage."

"You can only drill and do so many things. At the end of the day, it's just reaction, action, and reaction. I'll be ready."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Am fighter Striegl looks up to Pacquiao

MMA fighter Mark Striegl said he looks up to Filipino sports icon Manny Pacquiao as one of his inspirations.

The 27-year-old Filipino-American said it’s hard not to admire the fighting congressman because of his rags-to-riches story.

“Manny is one fighter that I will always look up to. It’s his humility and his love for his family and God that I admire,” Striegl said in an interview with sports scribe Carlos Cinco.

“He’s the people’s champ because he worked his way up to the top and got there through sheer guts and determination.”

Striegl, who is currently based in Singapore, will be returning to Manila to fight in front of his home crowd.

He will be having a tough assignment in unbeaten Aussie fighter Jordan Lucas, whom he’ll battle in ONE: Spirit of Champions on December 11.

“I always love competing in Manila,” said Striegl. “Filipino fight fans are a passionate bunch and it is an absolute honor to fight for the pride and glory of being Filipino.”

If he wins, he might get that title shot against ONE bantamweight king Bibiano Fernandes, who hasn’t been beaten in the past five years.

“Bibiano is a fantastic champion and of course it’s any fighter’s dream to win a world championship,” said Striegl.

”My style of fighting is a unique one. I always come forward and you’ll never see me in a boring fight. Come fight night, you can expect an action-packed fight where you never know what will happen next.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Am fighter Striegl stops foe in ONE debut

Askren-Santos ends in 'no contest'

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-American fighter Mark ''Mugen'' Striegl had an impressive ONE Championship debut by dominating erstwhile unbeaten American Casey Suire on Friday night.

Electrified by the crowd at the MOA Arena, Striegl showed world-class wrestling by taking down Suire early in the first round of Valor of Champions' co-main event.

The Fil-Am eventually secured his opponent's back and from there it was just a matter of time before he was able to sink in a rear naked choke, forcing Suire to submit.

Two other Pinoys won their matches against their respective foes.

Muay Thai expert Eugene Toquero showed he has grappling skills too by dominating Indonesia's Brianata Rosadhi on the ground. When repeated rear naked choke attempts didn't work, he punished his opponents with sharp elbows. Referee Joey Lepiten then stepped in to stop the bout.

Filipino fighter Edward Kelly, for his part, was able to submit fellow Pinoy Jimmy Yabo also in the first round. He started the match with high velocity kicks and later brought the fight to the ground. There, he was able to trap Yabo’s neck, forcing his opponent to tap the mat.

Team Lakay’s Geje Eustaquio was not as lucky against Anatpong Bunrad, who scored an upset victory in a close fight. Eustaquio was dominating Bunrad early in the match, but the latter was able to secure a couple of takedowns. This proved to be the difference as judges awarded Bunrad with a split decision.

In the main event, the ONE welterweight title bout between champion Ben ''Funky'' Askren and challenger Luis Santos ended in a no contest.

Askren accidentally poked Santos in the eye during their exchange just when the action was beginning to heat up.

After a careful review of the exchange verified the eye poke, referee Olivier Coste gave Santos five minutes to recover. However, after five minutes, Santos' vision was still impaired, forcing the conclusion of the fight.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com