La Salle, Ateneo bets clash in URCC meet

MANILA, Philippines - A match featuring La Salle and Ateneo fighters will highlight the 15 bouts scheduled in the Colt 45 Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) University Challenge on Saturday at the A. Venue Events Hall in Makati.

Ateneo’s Ralph Mendita, who trains under Hybrid Yam-Yan Club, collides with La Salle’s Meshal Al-Khuzeem in the 160-169 division of the event presented by Colt 45.

Mendita, who grew up in Alberta, Canada, has an excellent boxing background but Al-Khuzeem (Strikes and Submission Club) could be more dangerous because of his solid striking and superior ground techniques.

“Coming from schools with long history of rivalry, they are expected to bring their A-game,” said URCC founder and president Alvin Aguilar. “So we expect their fight to be extra intense and dramatic.”

As in their staging of “Aggression” last July also at the same venue, URCC marketing director Bubbles Aguilar and Colt 45 brand manager Greg Anonas expect the event – backed by Alaxan FR, E-Games, Chris Sports, Seair, Yoshinoya and Tribal Gear – to be another blockbuster affair.

The organizing URCC, however, stressed that while the participants are all collegiate players they will represent their respective clubs in the tournament that will follow the professional MMA rules except that it will be a three 5-minute rounds instead of the usual two 10-minute rounds.

Also worth watching are the bouts involving La Salle’s Jojo Tobang (Hybrid Yaw-Yan), Samsom College’s Jean Marc Martin (Hybrid Yaw-Yan), La Salle’s Chung Chang (MMASC), St. Paul’s Angelo Cristi (Maic’s Gym), Juan Sumulong University’s Nino Banatao (Maic’s Gym), St. Paul’s Angelo Cristi (Maic’s Gym) and San Beda’s Rain Balibalos (DefTac).

Tobang battles PMI’s Albert de Guzman in the 110-119 lbs division, Cristi collides with La Salle’s Andrew Laxa (DefTac) in the 150-159 division, Martin tangles with University of the East’s Justin Daguilan (Sprawl) in the 130-139 lbs, Banatao takes on Sta. Rita College’s Ceazar Militante (CFS) in the 170-179 lbs.