Mark Striegl set to debut at UFC

Mark Striegl is heading to the UFC! One Championship (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Mark Striegl is taking his talents to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Filipino mixed martial arts star is set to enter the fabled octagon on Aug. 23 (Philippine Time), taking on Russian fighter Timur Valiev at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Munhoz.

According to Aaron Bronsteter of TSN early Wednesday citing Valiev's manager Ali Abdelaziz, Striegl, the reigning URCC featherweight champion, will clash with fellow UFC debutant Valiev in one of the preliminary bouts to the showdown between Frankie Edgar and Pedro Munhoz at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The Striegl-Valiev is actually a rescheduled clash as Valiev previously had to beg off from his supposed UFC debut due to visa issues.

The Baguio-based Striegl is entering the UFC cage with an impressive 18-2 record bolstered by 14 submissions. He is on a four-fight winning streak.

However, he is only making an MMA return 16 months after his last match, an April 27, 2019 meeting against Japanese veteran Shunichi Shimizu at URCC 77: Raw Fury which was ruled a no contest due to a low blow.

Striegl devoted the rest of 2019 preparing for the Southeast Asian Games, where he captured a gold in sambo.

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