MMA in Cebu

Yes. MMA in Cebu. Against the backdrop of the popular UFC and One Championship (used to be called One FC), the big question is if there’s room for mixed martial arts not only in Cebu but in the country. MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today, with the UFC standing out as the most popular organization worldwide. Connor McGregor, Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre, Jose Aldo, Jon Jones and many more became popular to fight fans due to the UFC which now has a world audience thanks to TV and YouTube. The most popular Pinoy in MMA today is Eduard Folayang, One Championship’s lightweight champion who was once a member of the Philippine Wushu national team.

And so here we go. Are we ready for MMA in Cebu? After a long period of absence, MMA made a return of sorts at last night’s “No Way Out” fight card, the second edition of the Cebu Elite Fight League. Our very own Lemuel Maglinte, assistant sports editor of The Freeman, couldn’t have written it better yesterday, “In a ground-breaking event in Cebu fight scene, Cebuano fight fans will witness for the first time an explosive mixed martial arts action inside the steel cage via the second edition of Cebu Extreme Fight League dubbed as ‘No Way Out’.” By the way, Lemuel is the best to write about this since he is also an MMA practitioner and fought at last night’s event at the Cebu Coliseum.

We would really love to see MMA boom in Cebu much in the same way that Cebu has been the hotbed of boxing in the country. But just like anything that is destined to succeed, it’s not going to be an easy ride. In fact, it’s going to be a long, tough and bumpy uphill climb which needs to be taken. The Philippine Scene: The Universal Reality Combat Championship or URCC has organized the most number of events in the country and has scored a TV partnership with ABS-CBN Sports for the airing of its fights. Its last event was held last month in Manila. The URCC also made two visits to Cebu although the last one was in 2012. Pacific X-treme Conduct or PXC is based in Guam but has made the Philippines its other home with a series of events held in Manila.

Now if this is the benchmark, then it looks like Cebu will have to step up its game. If boxing has ALA and Omega Pro Sports actively holding events, who’s doing it for MMA? Cebu MMA’s prime mover is Master Benigno ‘Ekin’ R. Caniga Jr, CEO/Founder of Yaw-Yan ArDigma CEO/Founder and Vis-Min director. He put up last night’s event which had a total of twelve bouts featuring Roel ‘Akiyama’ Rosauro of Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu in the main event against the Urtych 'Tank' Alarin of  XFC MMA in Butuan. Both weighed in at 141 pounds at the weigh-in on Friday. The fight card also featured an MMA cage similar to the ones you see on TV. This is another thing worth checking out. My wish is that this be a start of more MMA in Cebu. But Caniga is going to need the help of as many supporters, friends and sponsors he can get. Like boxing, putting up MMA fight cards is not a joke. A promoter needs a very deep pocket and tons of support from corporate sponsors. A promoter has to deal with the purses of fighters, venue rental, sanction fees, advertising, accommodations, meals, taxes, transportation and so much more. While ticket sales will be of help, this can’t cover the expenses of a fight card. I have a feeling that MMA fight cards are not as expensive as boxing promotions for now, but when things pick up, MMA promoters will also need to spend more. The more MMA grows, the more it will also have to spend.

In Lemuel’s story yesterday, he quotes Caniga as saying “We are way behind when we talk about the sport of MMA here in Cebu. We have the talent but we have lesser events and hopefully, this is the start that our Cebuano fighters will have the much-needed exposure.” This is so true not only in MMA but in many sports. Sports enthusiasts get things done through their personal initiatives and at many times shell out their hard earned cash just to get things done just to give athletes more exposure. In Cebu’s case, Caniga doesn’t have a TV partner or a big corporate sponsor. But if  he’s patient and persistent, things will start turning out well. But again, it won’t happen overnight.

MMA in Cebu. Let’s all pray that this grows slowly but surely and provide the much-needed exposure for Cebu-based MMA fighters. We pray that fight fans also support the fight cards as this is the primary basis for sponsors to come in and lend a hand. Without a fan base, sponsors will be few and rare. Here’s looking forward to a booming and bright MMA.