Explosive URCC fights slated Saturday

MANILA, Philippines - Expect an intense and dramatic action as former SEA Games wrestling champion Marcus Valda and Eric Kelly try to boost their reputations when they go up against grizzled foreign rivals in the Colt 45-Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) XXIV Saturday at the SMS Convention Center in Pasay.

Dubbed “Uprising”, the event, which coincides with the 11th anniversary of the country’s foremost mixed martial arts promotion, will be crucial not only for Valda and Kelly but also for other fighters in the 10-fight card as they try to boost their status in the hope of getting a shot at URCC titles.

Long detached from the exciting world of MMA, Valda will be hard pressed to come up with a convincing win since he will be up against Ukrainian Igor Subora, the reigning URCC heavyweight champion.

But Valda is not going to the match without a game plan since he’s determined to return to the MMA with a bang.

That’s also the mission of Kelly who is aching to rebound from a shock defeat to Honorio Banario when he takes on undefeated Chinese Lu Jian Bo of Xian Sports Institute in the event presented by Colt 45 and sponsored by MegaSports World and Tribal Gear.

URCC president and founder Alvin Aguilar expects both matches to go the distance but it’s going to be a bloody one.

Also expected to get attention are the fights between Roy Doliguez and Franklin Donglay, Adrian Hillana and Ali Khatibi, Red Romero and Ricardo Sapno, Meshaal Al-Khuzeems and Melchor Cases, Lino Tagacay and Jay Olod and Andrew Benibe and Onyok Transmonte.

Even the matches involving the rookies – Lito Adiwang against MJ Abrillo and Rockey Vergara versus Ric Empil – are also worth watching.  

Supporting the event are Anzahl Paint, Chris Sports, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Red Box Karaoke, Tapa King, Padi’s Point, Lifeline Rescue, Impact High Performance Whey Protein, Boost Next level Creatine, Dymatize and P&P Tattoo.

Tickets are now available at all SM ticket outlets. For reservations, call 470-2222 (SM Tickets). First fight starts at 8 p.m.