Mark Striegl submits Paige Alitao in KSK MMA Festival

Mark Streigl performs the "Marcelo-tine" to submit Paige Alitao. KSK

By Ivan Saldajeno

MAKATI—Mark Striegl announced his return to the mainstream combat sports circuit with a bang by beating Paige Alitao in a grappling showdown highlighting the KSK MMA Festival at the Circuit Makati Activity Area on Sunday night.

Striegl submitted Alitao via a guillotine choke variation that the former PXC, ONE Championship, and UFC fighter called the "Marcelo-tine" at the 3:10 mark of their one-round clash.

"It's one of my favorite techniques," Striegl said, recalling that the same submission technique popularized by Marcelo Garcia led him to beat Lee Do-Gyeom for the URCC featherweight championship back in 2018.

"It feels great. A finish is a finish. I'll take whatever finish I can get."

Striegl then said that he is now plotting a return to the mixed martial arts cage later this year.

"I definitely want to fight again in MMA before the year's end," added Striegl, who last fought at UAE Warriors last year in a losing effort to Walter Cogliandro.

Striegl also said that he continues training with the Philippine Sambo team ahead of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

In another featured fight, Elorde Sandigon survived the acid test of Indonesian opponent Andryawan Darmita for a unanimous decision win.

Sandigon, who is also part of the event's organizing team, braved a rib injury and even the tensions brewing about the late challenges the MMA card faced.

Supposed to be held on the streets of the city proper here, the KSK MMA Festival was moved at the last minute to Circuit Makati due to unforeseen logistic concerns.

"First time kong maranasan yung may injury ako and then nago-organize. Hindi ko kasi kayang tiisin na hindi ako tutulong kahit sasabihan nila ako. Actually, sinabihan na nila ako, 'Huwag ka nang tumulong. Magpahinga ka na,' pero pag may mga kailangan, hindi ko sila kaya na hindi tulungan," Sandigon said.

The main event saw Singaporean Sim Kai Xiong knocking out Godwin Langbayan.

With both fighters already bloodied by Round 2, Sim connected with a kick to the body that staggered Langbayan.

Former URCC star CJ De Tomas, who officiated the bout as the referee, consulted the instant replay first before ruling correctly that Sim knocked out Langbayan legally, giving Sim the win.

Kombat Sports Kalayaan, the brains behind the KSK MMA Festival, plans to do a sequel of the event in October with the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig being eyed as the venue.

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