Lasprilla out to awe URCC fans

MANILA, Philippines - Richard Lasprilla, slowly regaining the passion that made him one of the country’s top mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioners, battles Angelo Estanol in his comeback fight in the Colt 45 URCC XVI “Reckoning” on March 27 at the A. Venue Events Hall in Makati City.

After a self-imposed hiatus, Lasprilla said he’s ready to start all over again.

“Competing is just too much for me to avoid,” he said.

Learning valuable lessons from his setback to Kevin Belingon three years ago and having trained long enough for this match, Lasprilla also said he’s now much stronger and smarter than he was before when he lorded over the flyweight division for several years.

“My training camp is really great, everybody in our gym is helping me prepare for my fight. We have different sparring partners from different teams to help me in every aspect of my game,” said Asprilla, who is a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under the DEFTA team.

But the limelight in the 10-bout event presented by Colt 45 and backed by Tribal Gear and My PLDT Watchpad is expected to fall on the title fight between reigning welterweight champion and multi-titled wushu expert Eduard Folayang and Korean Dooje Chung.

Tickets for the event pegged at P1,000 and P500 are now available at Ticketnet (tel. No. 911-5555). The first bout starts at 7 p.m.

Though Estanol is a first-timer in the URCC-organized event, Lasprilla is not taking him lightly, adding that “he’s been competing elsewhere so he’s really a worthy opponent.”

Meantime, Angelito Manguray, a 42-year-old dentist from Davao City, and Salvador Domasian of Ground and Pound MMA collide for the vacant lightweight crown in the event with Solar Sports, Solar TV, NU107 and 99.5RT as media partners.

The organizing URCC, headed by Alvin Aguilar, announced that all PLDT Mydsl subscribers can watch the fight live via the PLDT watchpad.

Also expected to draw attention in the event also supported by VRP Medical Center, SEAIR, Chris Sports, Yoshinoya and Padi’s Point is the heavyweight showdown between Igor Subora of Ukraine and Nicholas Mann.