Yaw-Yan fighter cements road to URCC title shot

CEBU, Philippines - The undefeated Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu fighter Vaughn ‘The Spawn’ Donayre is putting Cebu in the country’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) map as he is now primed for a title shot in the prestigious Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC).

Donayre stepped closer to his dream of fighting for a championship after scoring a spectacular first round knockout of Baguio’s Robet Buminaang in the “Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC)–Unleashed” last March 2 at the Baguio Convention Center.

The 30-year-old Donayre, a blue-belter in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under DEFTAC Cebu, showed his superb striking skills in finishing off Buminaang with a knee strike to the face at the 1:13 mark of the very first round.

“I am more comfortable fighting on the ground than standing up, but I said to myself that I need to improve my striking skills to be a well-rounded fighter that’s why I trained hard,” said Donayre in a press conference the other night at the Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu headquarters.

Donayre is now the No.1 contender for the URCC lightweight throne that will be vacated by Filipino Honorio Banario, the newly-crowned One Fighting Championship (ONE FC) featherweight champion.

“I went there and became the first ever Cebuano to win in Baguio. My opponent was strong and I am so happy that we got the knockout win,” Donayre said.

Donayre, who carries an immaculate 5-0 slate in MMA, also won over veteran Allan Atup last January 9 in  “the URCC Cebu 8–Survival” at the J Center Convention Center. 

Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu Founder and CEO Master Benigno ‘Ekin’ R. Caniga, Jr. said Donayre will be fighting  on April 27 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila against a still undetermined opponent.

“This is not yet a title fight for Vaugh, but this is a good avenue for him to show to everyone that he is ripe and ready for a title shot,” said Master Ekin. (FREEMAN)