JEAN Claude Saclag silenced the home crowd and punched his ticket to the Asian Games gold medal match after defeating Japan’s Daisuke Murayama by unanimous decision in the men’s traditional -65kgs semifinal, Monday, at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Japan.
Competing on Japanese soil against the host nation’s fighter, Saclag stayed composed and controlled the bout to secure a place in the final.
The victory gives the Philippines a chance to capture its first MMA gold of the 2026 Asian Games, with Saclag now set to face Tajikistan’s Otabek Rajabov in the championship match on Tuesday afternoon.
Rajabov advanced after defeating Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Adilov.
Saclag, a former Wushu athlete and 2014 Asian Games silver medalist, received a first-round bye before defeating Saudi Arabia’s Saud Fawaz Alholem in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alvarez secured a bronze medal in the men’s traditional -77kgs division after falling to Kazakhstan’s Yerkingali Burkutalin by technical knockout in their semifinal.
Saclag now has one more fight to go and one more opportunity to turn his win over Japan’s home bet into an Asian Games gold medal for Team Philippines. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
