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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