Rodriguez stakes belt in URCC tilt

An exciting match between two local martial arts experts will be the highlight of the third Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC III) on Sept. 20 at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio.

The main event will feature Richie Lazaro, co-founder of Pasukuang Labanan and an expert in Machado, Sari-an, Muay Thai and AAK, and Fritz Rodriguez, a Jiu-Jitsu grappling champion and the first Filipino to compete in the Mundials World Championship in Brazil. The fight will certainly raise a lot of interest because both are undefeated in mixed martial arts competitions.

"This fight will probably be going to the ground because both fighters are really good," said Alvin Aguilar, URCC II organizer.

Aguilar added that what makes the fight even more interesting is the fact that both men are experts in different fields of martial arts and that it would be interesting to see how they are going to employ the different disciplines in the fight.

"Rodriguez is more of a freestyle wrestler while Lazaro is more into Pasukuang Labanan," he said. "It is going to be an exciting match to watch."

URCC III comes only months after URCC II, which was successfully mounted at the Philippine Sports Arena, last April. The main event last April was between Tony Torres and Andre Bispo, both Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belters. The first URCC was also held in the same venue last November 2002.

Aguilar has made it his personal mission to promote mixed martial arts in the Philippines. This includes showcasing the different Filipino martial arts like kali, yaw-yan, sarian and pekiti tirsia.

"We’d like to educate the public about this sport because it’s even safer than boxing as there have been no deaths in relation to mixed martial arts so far," he said. "If you think you’re tough, prove it in the ring and not in the streets."

For inquiries and ticket reservations, please call the Red Corner Gym at 867-8059.