Ultimate Fight debuts in RP

It is called the "Ultimate Fight", a no-holds-barred martial arts clash of the toughest of the recognized disciplines of contact sports -- from boxing to taekwondo to judo and karatedo and wrestling.

There are no rules. It is a test of raw courage and brute force.

Defense Tactics Center (DEFTAC) is hosting a contest similar in format to the Ultimate Fight Championships which has drawn sellout crowds wherever it is staged in the US but was banned in the Philippines because of its objectionable format.

The Philippine competition is called the Universal Reality Combat Championship "Mayhem in Manila" to be held Nove. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque City.

Tournament director Alvin Aguilar says a mixed martial arts tournament is a tournament wherein competitors from different martial art disciplines can compete against one another using rules which do not favor any particular art.

In the past, one could never find out who had the better style or fighter because they would both be limited by the rules of each art.

Fifteen martial arts will be entering their fighters namely: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Yaw-Yan (Sayaw Ng Kamatayan), Sari-an, Boxing(all represented by DEFTAC fighters), Submission Fighting, Suntokaran Todo Bakbakan(Filipino Freestyle Fighting), Pentjak Silat, Judo, Freestyle Wrestling, Taekwondo, Kyokushinkai Karate, P.M.A. Karate, Away Kalye, Pancrase, Dumog and TRACMA (Trovador Ramos Consolidated Martial Arts).This type of competition became mainstream in 1994 when the first Ultimate Fighting Championships came about. Its popularity has grown to epic proportions as competitions like this are now held all over the world. Evidence of its popularity would be the infamous Trump Taj Mahal in las Vegas, MGM and the gigantic Tokyo Dome in Japan where tickets are sold out several times a year.

For tickets and inquiries call Red Corner Gym at 867-8059. Tickets will be sold also at the venue before the event proper. Tickets are sold at P280 on a first-come-first-served basis.