Metro Manila, Philippines – Carlos Alvarez settled for the bronze medal in the mixed martial arts men’s traditional -77kg category after absorbing a technical knockout loss in the semifinals against Kazakhstan’s Yerkingali Burkutalin at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Monday, Sept. 21.

Alvarez secured his semifinal spot with a knockout victory over Indonesia’s Ananda Wahyu Setyo in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Jean Claude Saclag will aim to win the country’s first gold medal after taking down hometown bet Daisuke Murayama in the men’s traditional -65kg division. He will face Otabek Rajabov of Tajikistan in the final on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The Philippines now has two bronze medals in the quadrennial showpiece after a historic performance by the quintet of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Christy Sañosa, Shyryn Salazar, and Hilary Paas in the women’s soft tennis team event on Sunday.