BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Two Cordilleran mixed martial arts athletes claimed silver and bronze medals, adding to the medal haul of the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games.
Jean Claude Saclag secured the country’s first silver medal while Carlos Alvarez got the second bronze medal of the country at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Saclag claimed the silver medal after battling head-to-head against Tajikistan’s Otabek Rajabov in the intense championship match in the Mixed Martial Arts men’s traditional -65kg division on Sept. 22, 2026.
The 31-year-old Saclag, who hails from Kalinga and Benguet province, is an elite Wushu Sanda specialist, former World Cup Champion, and three-time SEA Games gold medalist.
“Yes, well fought. Big heart. He apologized. I said, ‘That is a rare silver.’ Be proud, JC,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman John Patrick Gregorio in a statement released to the media.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Carlos Alvarez finished his campaign in the Men’s Traditional 77kg in mixed martial arts after enduring a loss against Kazakhstan’s Yerkingali Burkutalin via a technical knockout during the semifinal match on Sept. 21.
Saclag and Alvarez, along with fellow Cordilleran Gina Araos, represented the Philippines in the debut of MMA in the 2026 Asian Games. (JDP/RMC -PIA-CAR)
