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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