Pacquiao lookalike set to make waves in MMA at WSOF-GC 3

Boots Luna/WSOF Global

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--At UGB: Foreign Invasion at the Circuit Makati last January, a fighter who exactly looks like Manny Pacquiao showed up and delivered a Pacquiao-like knockout in just 19 seconds of his fight there.

“Sobrang na inspire ako na kamukha ko si Manny Pacquiao kasi yung kamukha ko o kahawig ko ay di ordinaryong tao kundi sikat sa buong mundo dahil sa kanyang galing sa boxing, at isa pa siyang senador ngayon. Baka sa pagtiyatiyaga at sipag sa mga laban ko, isang araw, masundan ko rin ang yapak ng idolo ko,” relayed Mario Sismundo.

Sismundo actually played as Pacquiao in a TV commercial prior to committing full time to MMA.

That victory last January, plus his resemblance to the multi-titled boxer, earned him a spot at WSOF-GC 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

It turns out, he also hails from Pacquiao's hometown of General Santos.

“Malaking bagay na nakasali ako sa ganitong kalaking organization na galing Amerika. Tulad sa akin, na galing sa General Santos City na matagal nang naghintay ng pagkakataon makalaban sa malaking audience, malaking bagay po talaga. Matagal ko po itong pinangarap at dinasal,” said the doppelganger of Pacquiao, who happens to also have a hand in MMA as he owns some shares in One Championship, about the opportunity to fight for WSOF, who like One ranks among the top MMA promotions globally.

Sismundo, who holds a 2-1 MMA record, takes on Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti in the co-main event of WSOF Global's first fight card in the Philippines, dubbed as "WSOF-GC 3: Philippines vs. the World" at the historic arena known as "The Big Dome", where Pacquiao, at one point, had a fight there as well.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno