UFC mulls Munoz fight in Manila in 2014

MANILA, Philippines – A dream Ultimate Fighting Championship card headlined by full-blooded Filipino middleweight fighter Mark Munoz might happen next year.

Mark Fischer, the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC-Asia, predicted that during the official press conference of the Balls Channel’s UFC Media Tour: Mark Munoz in Manila at the 9501 restaurant inside the ABS-CBN headquarters on Friday.

“UFC in the Philippines in 2014,” Fischer told the press. “It’s a prediction, no commitment.”

Fischer even went to the details.

“But judging on the response of the people here, it might happen and this guy (Mark Munoz) beside me will be in the main card,” Fischer added.

With the boom of the Mixed Martial Arts in the Philippines as more and more MMA organizations with the likes of PXC and OneFC staging fights here, UFC considers the country as one of their top three markets in Asia.  UFC has already staged fights in Asia particularly in Japan and Macau in the past. 

“It’s a very big chance. We’d love to come to the Philippines and most likely in Manila because we have a great market here.  Philippines is next to Japan and Korea for us in Asia. Now it’s time to take it over on the ground. We’re studying this now and while we’re here, we’re already talking to several groups,” he added.

Munoz, who is in town for a weekend media tour culminating with an open training in the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall at 3pm on Sunday, is ecstatic of the possibility of fighting in front of his countrymen.

“That will be something big. I’m a full-blooded Filipino who grew up in the [United] States. My father originally came from Bicol before moving to Pasay [City] and my mom is from Sta. Ana, Manila.  I love the fighting spirit of the Filipino people. They’re resilient and tough. And I want to represent that in the octagon in UFC,” said Munoz, who is coming off a tough loss to Chris Weidman in UFC on Fuel 4 main event last July.  

But first things first, The Filipino Wrecking Machine needs to settle Tim “The Barbarian” Boestch in UFC 162 on July 6 before thinking of a Manila fight and possibly a title shot.