July 24, 2010 –I had to do a double take when the event host said, “URCC 17.”  Wow, it’s been that many and when I talk to some fight fans and mention URCC, they still remember the first few URCC events at the amphitheater of Casino Filipino or the one at Ultra.  The biggest local MMA event has made quite a lasting impression even during its inception or its natal years.

 

 

And the fight fans continue to grow in numbers.  Just last Saturday, girls from my Thursday prayer group (I know, extremes right?) came and supported Chris as he refereed some of the fights.  I invited my good friend Francis to go too and he was also there with us.  He was a URCC virgin until that night.  As for Madz, I think that’s her 3^rd time to go, accompanying me.

 

 

 

URCC XVII “Havoc” Fight Card Results:

 

Match 1

Honorio Banario v. Bernard Soriano

Winner: Honorio Banario

Submission (Punches)

Round 1 – 2:55

 

Match 2

Noel Norada v. Randy Megrino

Winner: Noel Norada

Submission (Punches)

Round 1 – 1:37

 

Match 3

Jessie Rafols v. Andrew Benibe

Winner: Jessie Rafols

Submission (Kimura)

Round 1 – 9:12

 

Match 4

Reysaldo Transmonte v. Lino Tagacay

Winner: Reysaldo Transmonte

Decision (Unanimous)

Round 3 – 5:00

 

Match 5

Carl Sabeniano v. Jerson Estoro

Winner: Carl Sabeninano

KO (Backfist)

Round 1 – 0:18

 

Match 6

Igot Subora v. Panchito Estrada

Winner: Igor Subora

Submission (RNC)

Round 1 – 4:21

 

Match 7

Eric Kelly v. Aden Zarco

Winner: Eric Kelly

Submission (Achilles Lock)

Round 1 – 2:41

 

Match 8

Reggie Amarante v. Charry de la Cruz

Winner: Reggie Amarante

Decision (Unanimous)

Round 2 – 10:00

 

Match 9

Froilan Sarenas v. Razi Jabbari

Winner: Froilan Sarenas

Submission (Armbar)

Round 1 – 5:50

 

Match 10

Roy Docyogen v. Jordan Ogo

Winner: Roy Docyogen

Submission (RNC)

Round 1 – 9:26

 

 

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Most of the matches at this event weren’t really that exciting (to my disappointment because I just recruited 3 new fight fans) but there are a few that really had me forget about the ho-hum ones.  I took pleasure in watching every second of Match 3 between Jessie Rafols and Andrew Benibe as the two fighters were toe to toe in dominating the other.  It was a very technical fight with one taking the advantage position off the other.  Rafols at one point mounted Benibe and tried to execute an armbar.  Benibe tactically escaped the trap and reversed positions with Rafols.  A few more take downs and Benibe found himself caught in a Kimura set-up by Rafols.

 

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Lino Tagacay, representing The Army Team, was an old boxing trainer of mine at a former gym before he stepped into the professional MMA scene.  I have a lot of respect for his boxing skills despite his long range punch throws that really opens up his head for a big blow.  I think Tagacay’s aggression in the first round earned him that round.  For a second, Tagacay thought that the blue corner had thrown in the towel and almost celebrated too early.  Transmonte wasn’t that quick to quit.   Both fighters though were visibly tired.  I think the judges gave the 2^nd round to Transmonte after landing some leg kicks.  Equally scoring a round of his own, the match went to a third.  Transmonte looked like he caught his second wind as he kept moving forward creating more offense towards Tagacay’s direction.  Tagacay seemed to be running low in gas and eventually lost by decision to Transmonte.

 

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Match 5 was the speediest fight that night ending 18 seconds after the bell clonked its start.  Carl Sabeniano looked so much in shape and form, ready to knock the fight out of his opponent.  And that’s what he did to the crowd’s delight as the crowd roared in excitement.  A rotating backfist from Sabeniano was Elorde MMA’s Jerson Estoro stone cold stunner!  He was immediately knocked out cold.  I see it though as partially a lucky shot since the punch was thrown semi-blindly.  It was a back fist landing squarely on the jaw.  I can’t wait to see him again in the next one and prove myself wrong.  I know definitely that there’s more to see from him.  Kudos to marring the perfect winning record of Estoro!

 

The daunting Ukrainian MMA fighter Igor Subora saw Panchito Estrada in the ring for Match 6.  The crowd cheered “Panchito” on as he kept dampening Subora’s stance with a number of strong punches.  It kept landing on Subora’s face that eventually gave him a bloody cut.  That didn’t derail his objective as he took down Estrada and held him down.  Estrada appeared to have his immense strength drained from him.  Igor positioned well to maneuver a rear naked choke.  Estrada finally taps after a well-executed RNC.

 

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Match 7 was another personal favorite among the fight roster that night.  It was a match that involved Ari Zarco of Maic’s Gym and Eric Kelly of Yaw Yan Ardigma.  The time was mostly spent on the ground with Kelly attempting to secure an ankle lock and Zarco trying to defend himself.  At the end of it, I thought Zarco tapped to what looked like a knee lock or trap arranged by Kelly.  To me, Kelly’s posture came across as pressure on the knee.  I even commented to Arvin who was sitting beside me that it was the first time I actually saw a knee lock executed in the URCC.  After talking to CW about it, he said it was essentially an ankle lock.  “An ankle lock?” I thought to myself.  It seemed to be too high for an ankle lock.  I shrugged.  It must be from a pretty awkward angle.  Nevertheless, from where I was sitting, Kelly looked like he knew what he was doing and have performed his fight strategy with confidence.

 

Reggie Amarante was another boxing trainer of mine before he joined the URCC.  He was one of my favorite trainers (together with “Kim”) back in the day.  He has great footwork and speed.  He now trains under DEFTAC.  Reggie Amarante obviously dominated his opponent in the ring during Match 8 unleashing hooks and whipping straights from time to time.  His visibly solid punches kept poking de la Cruz’ face bruising him badly.  Reggie looked untouched and was clearly ahead of his game.  To my dissatisfaction though, he didn’t go in for the kill.  He didn’t follow through even if de la Cruz staggered a couple of times.  To be fair to de la Cruz, he took some solid punches and still appeared to be unfazed.  His eyes were still all focused on Amarante, striving to re-strategize.  Amarante after 2 rounds was evidently the winner even without reading the judges’ scorecard.

 

 

Match 10 was between Jordan Ogo, a fighter from Saipan and Lakay Wushu’s Roy Docyogen.  Ogo did excite the crowd a bit with his striking abilities but Docyogen proved to be a seasoned and well-trained fighter.  The bell couldn’t save Ogo as he taps out with 34 seconds left in the 1^st round.

 

 

Other Photos:

 

Guess who?

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Pretty pretty girls support Chris!

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Maddie and Bubba

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Janey, Margee, Rasia, Maddie 

Thanks girls for attending, I know you’re all tired from the en2010 conference

But you still managed to watch.

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With Francis and his favorite shirt, our prayer group leader Marge 

and my Yoshinoya eating partner Rasia

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3 of the FOUR STRONG!   Super love these two!

 

 

Overall, the matches just made me yearn for more URCC live action.  I can’t believe I missed URCC XVI.  The same thing goes for Francis.  It was his first URCC live event but, as he texted me that night, it certainly won’t be his last.

 

 

URCC 17 Havoc Album

URCC 17 Havoc Album –Rasia

 

Related Entries:

URCC XV Onslaught Fight Result

URCC XIV Aggression Fight Result

 

 

Photo Credit:

Rasia Ortanez

 

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There’s going to be a fight on March 14, 2010 (Manila Time).  Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will stand at one corner.  The question is, who will stand at the other corner?  Will it be Ghanaian Joshua Clottey  or Floyd Mayweather Jr.?  After weeks of negotiation circus, Top Rank’s Bob Arum finally decided to set the WBO welterweight title fight against Clottey.  The negotiation fizzled out between the two dominant American boxing promotional companies when Mayweather Jr’s camp demanded for a rigorous drug testing procedure –random examination like the Olympics that can be really close to the fight night.  

 

 

The boxing commission only requires urine testing but the stringent drug testing will call for random blood and urine sampling prior to and after the proposed fight.  Team Pacquiao couldn’t agree to the blood testing 30 days before the match concerned that this might affect Pacman’s performance.  Pacquiao filed a lawsuit against Mayweather’s camp last month, claiming several members had defamed him by intimating he uses performance-enhancing drugs.

 

 

The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was supposed to be one of boxing’s biggest revenue-generating fights.  There’s still time before March to reopen talks but Arum has closed his doors to Mayweather for March, more especially that he feels Mayweather will start the nonsense media talk again about the testing and regulations.

 

 

Pacquiao’s new opponent in Clottey is a strong, aggressive African that beat Zab Judah of the United States for the IBF Welterweight title in August 2008 and lost a split decision to Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last June.

 

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Top Rank promoter Bob Arum made a trip to the Philippines to talk to Manny Pacquiao, who broke records of being the only champion with 7 world boxing titles under his belt.  After Pacquiao’s clear welterweight win over Miguel Cotto last November, everyone is slating Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the next in line to face the formidable Filipino boxer.

 

March 13, 2010 is the date they are eyeing.  This can be the biggest boxing event of next year since people have been anticipating this match-up.  Pacquiao is the top pound-for-pound fighter while Mayweather is currently No.2 –although the No.1 position is not new to Mayweather since he was No.1 before he retired in June 2008.

 

 

The public has been clamoring for this fight to happen but according to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s coach, March 13 is too fast a turnaround.  Remember that Pacquiao suffered a broken eardrum during his duel with Cotto.  Roach wants Pacquiao to be in his best possible shape before he steps again in the ring.  Roach is looking into a May 2010 bout but that will coincide with the election month.  Pacquiao already filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) this week to run for Congress.

 

Ticket for the live fight is expected to cost around $2,500 (P117,500) while the cheapest seats at around $500 (P25,000).

 

Will Schaefer and Arum get this deal done and set a fight date before the 2^nd half of next year?  The public will have to wait and see.

 

 

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Last Saturday, my friend/”sole” sister Madz and I was at the 15^th installation of Universal Reality Combat Championship dubbed, “Onslaught.”  This time it was staged at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.  Thank goodness that the World Pyro Olympics was staged at the Fort or we would have been caught in heavy traffic.

 

We came in a bit late (1^st round already started) but thank goodness, Jerome had two seats saved and we were able to find relatively good seats in the elevated PHP 300-ticket area (last time we paid for VIP seats at PHP 1K++, I strained my neck.  Downside of PHP300 -rowdy drunk guys who make never-ending speculative commentaries and a fool of themselves).

 

 

FIGHT RESULTS

 

1. Hideo Morikawa (Kyokushinkai) vs Ramonito Pabroa (d’ Elements)

Result: Morikawa won via armbar

 

2. Alvin Ramirez (Yaw Yan Buhawi) vs Roy Docyogen (Lakay Wushu)

Result: Docyogen won by unanimous decision

 

3. Lando Espinosa (Elorde MMA) vs George Lusadan (Lakay Wushu)

Result:

 

4. Sabah Fadai (DEFTAC Cebu/Revolution Fight Team) vs Aden Zarco (Benibe MMA)

Result: Fadai won via KO

 

5. Jlimar Tanagayan (Cenojas MMA) vs Mags Gonzales (Oriental Negros Top Team)

Result:

 

6. Eric Kelly (Yaw Yan Ardigma) vs Luke Mark Catubig (Oriental Negros Top Team)

Result:

 

7. Marcus Valda (DEFTAC) vs Vincent Pajaro (Hybrid Yaw Yan)

Result: Valda won via TKO.  Pajaro’s corner throws in the towel.

 

8. Ali Khatibi (DEFTAC) vs Andrew Benibe (Benibe MMA)

Result: Stoppage by the doctor due to accidental eye gouge.  Khatibi retains title.

 

9. Caloy Baduria (Elorde MMA) vs Zhang Tie Quan (Black Tiger Team China)

Result: Zhang won via armbar

 

10. Mark Sangiao (Lakay Wushu) vs Justin Cruz (Spike 22)

Result: Cruz won via guillotine choke

 

 

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I wasn’t able to take that many photos unlike last time because I wanted to concentrate on the fights.  I was able to take a few during the earlier bouts.

 
This got to be one of the best fight card, even the undercard fights were action-awesome.  One undercard that Gracie Barra Cebu contender won had half the body of Zarco flying out of the ring with his kick.  It was indeed a great kick catapulting your opponent between the ropes knocked out.  It’s another thing though to add insult to injury by taunting a man in stupor.

 

 

I think there were 4 title-ridden MMA bouts –the last 4 fights that started off with Marcus Valda and Vincent Pajaro squaring off.  I really liked the pre-fight video presented prior to introducing the fighters –gives some off-the-ring drama and humanizes the fighters a bit (it’s sick how some drunkards go there and rally the fighters like they’re in a cockpit watching roosters slash each other until they bleed out.)  The fighters are athletes too, you know.  Some of them are really technically adept and not only there to gut it out.

 

 

As soon as the bell clonked, my good friend Marcus (SEA Games wrestling champ in two categories) immediately took control of the match.  He dominated position against then heavyweight champion Pajaro from the Hybrid Yaw Yan team.  He got Pajaro’s back and unleashed damaging punches to the head.  Pajaro momentarily escaped the disadvantaged position and was able to get back on his feet.  But Marcus had something up his rashguard sleeve when he took Pajaro down like he was only fighting a featherweight champ.  Marcus did an incredible suplex, which is basically an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling where you pick up your opponent off the ground and then using the large portion of his own body weight to drive him down.  The whole crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed in astonishment.  Marcus had great base that toppled Pajaro’s strength of trying to put him off.  He held Pajaro down with full control.  He took his time and let loose few more harmful blows to Pajaro’s face.  Finally, Pajaro’s corner threw in the towel –literally in the middle of the ring.  Referee stopped the fight.

 

 

The Khatibi and Benibe fight was the most cautious match –with both fighters measuring the other without quite an offensive attack.  Benibe at one point accidentally kneed Khatibi’s groin area.  Later on, Khatibi accidentally poked Benibe’s eyes.  The doctor didn’t want Benibe to continue.  Without a decisive result, Khatibi retained the title.

 

 

Co-main event round, Caloy “Bad Boy” Baduria looked ready for his opponent returning from China –coming from a light heavyweight division win against Remand Lazaro.  Both fighters weren’t strangers to each other as they have seen the same determined eyes in the ring before.  Zhang Tie Quan won the first meet against Baduria.  …and he won the 2^nd meet last Saturday via armbar.  It’s surprising that Baduria hasn’t learned how to defend against that strategy and still somehow gave away his arm.  This is not the first time he has tapped out due to an armbar trap.

 

 

The main event is the excellently conditioned Mark Sangiao pitted against the well-rounded Justin Cruz returning from Guam.  I personally like Justin Cruz because he is a seasoned athlete and shows a lot of heart in his fights.  This was the match I was really anticipating, other than Marcus’ URCC debut, because Mark Sangiao has earned my respect too after having an undefeated record (with strong fights) before his first loss in URCC 7, the Art of War, where Filipino MMA fighters were up against Chinese MMA fighters.  That was back in December 2005 –Bubba’s last match as well.  Almost 4 years since I saw Sangiao back in the URCC ring again. 

 

Reigning champ Justin “The Shocker” Cruz of Spike 22 didn’t make it easy for Lakay Wushu’s Sangiao to reclaim the belt he once had.  He once again impressed me by locking in a tight guillotine around Sangiao’s neck –guillotine that actually prevents airflow to the lungs.  It was quite tricky to pull –but Cruz’ execution was done beautifully and successfully.  Sangiao is a formidable foe not known to tap out –but unexpectedly, he did.

 

Enjoyed the show with Team DEFTAC (Jerome, Carlo, Janna, Floyd, newly promoted to purple Toffy and Lai) 

(With Maddie)

 

It was another heart-stopping show.  URCC only gets better as the MMA fighters are more learnt and get more skillful.  Eagerly anticipating the next “Bakbakan na!” event.

 

 

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The Pacman still has the hand and foot speed and the left big swing to grab another belt –his seventh world title across several weight classes.  He proves once again that he is the best pound for pound fighter of his time.

 

The MGM Grand was packed to the roof, with seats all sold-out; the anticipating crowd inside the arena watched one of the best matches of Pacquiao as of late (Pacquiao supposedly got a 13 million dollar purse.  Add the endorsements to that and you have the richest Filipino boxer of all time…). 

 

Round 1 appeared to be Cotto’s round throwing more punches and with them landing on Pacman’s head and body. 

 

 

Round 2 was clearly Pacquiao’s round scoring a knockdown from Cotto.  Cotto showed ferocious counterpunches.  The Pacman was too quick to sustain serious damage.  When Pacquiao unleashed a leftie, Cotto fell to the floor, dazed.  Since then Cotto didn’t look like he was the same fighter that stepped in the ring barely 5 minutes that passed.

 

Rounds 3-7 were all in Pacquiao’s favor marking another knockdown from Cotto in Round 4.  Everyone held their breath predicting that the bout will end soon with Pacquiao unleashing the deadliest that will bring Cotto down for the third time –and for good.

 

However, the 29-year old underdog from Puerto Rico didn’t relent so easily.  He got pumped up with his second wind and worked the ring, letting Pacquiao run after him.  He released a few jabs and body shots that connected.  It seems like he was back on his strategy of attacking Pacquiao’s body.

 

Judging from Pacquiao’s cauliflower ear and minor cuts under his eyes along with some bruises, Cotto did land some heavy shots of his own.  It was definitely a toe-to-toe match than Pacquiao versus Hatton or Dela Hoya.  You definitely got your money’s worth watching the fight.

 

 

Despite a puffed and brutally bruised face and spitting blood, Cotto stayed in the game, unyielding, hanging on to every round, surviving.  He earned my respect with his athleticism -I heard he’s also loved like Pacquiao because he’s really a very nice guy outside the ring.  Rounds 9 and 10, he looked hopeful to land a devastating left hook that can knock Pacquiao out.  But Pacquiao just wouldn’t have it –and he also didn’t want the fight to go to scorecards even if it was clearly his arm the referee would raise at the end of the day.  He wanted a knockout that his coach, Freddie Roach predicted.

 

 

 

Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in for the boxer’s safety and waved his hands to put an end to the fight after Cotto received a big left to the head and looked like he couldn’t defend himself intelligently. The end came in the 55-second mark of the final round.

 

 

Pacquiao has successfully stripped off Cotto his WBO welterweight belt.  Pacquiao’s speed coupled with throwing many punches from different angles is a firepower that is tough to extinguish -plus the fact that he has the unwavering heart of a champion.

 

 

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