8 URCC fights up in Sinulog

MANILA, Philippines – Aside from its famed Sinulog festival, Cebu will have another exciting event to watch when it celebrates its week-long fiesta as Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) and Colt 45 present the Cebu VI Respect on Jan. 14 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Eight fights, including the much-awaited showdown between unbeaten fighters -- Leonard Delarmino of Iloilo’s Capanay MMA and Cary Bullos of Cebu’s Sel Def MMA -- are expected to liven up the annual festival which is long considered as the biggest and the most attended in the country.

George Fansbaum, an American expat in Cebu, will debut against local fighter Jimmy Yabo of Sel Def MMA while Tom Woodfin, a British expat with unbeaten URCC record, will test the mettle of Davao’s Ricardo Sapno.

Also on tap in the event presented by Colt 45 (Strong Beer for Real Men) are two Visayan championship fights with Maxilito Yong of Cebu’s Yawyan staking his flyweight crown against Agustin Delarmino of Capanay MMA (Iloilo) while pinweight champion Victor Torre of Deftac Bacolod battles Mark Revalde of Yawyan Ardigma of Cebu.

The three other fights scheduled in the event backed by Tribal Gear and Century Bangus with Solar Sports and 92.3 Killer Bee as media partners are the pinweight matches between Jessie Tambiling and Reynan Noblefrance, and Jonjer Torbiso and Siloy Analito and the welterweight tussle between Von Donaire and Adrian Hillana.

Tickets pegged at P200, P500 and P1,000 are available at Veranda Restaurant & Bar, Parkmall, North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City, Chopticks Casual Chow, E-Bloc 1 Bldg., Asiatown IT Park, Cebu City, Penthouse, 3/F CJRS Point Bldg., Asiatown IT Park, Cebu City and Bistro Ecila, 3/F The Ayala Terraces, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Tel. 417.1375.

Delarmino, who was stripped of his Visayan bantamweight crown after he failed to defend it for some time, is expected to rely on his superb striking while Bullos will be banking on his grappling techniques.

Both Woodfin and Sapno are coming off impressive wins, thus expecting a keen competition in the event that will start at 7 p.m.