MANILA, Philippines – After years of talks, it's finally happening.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will no longer just bring one prized fighter at a time to do an open training for live UFC-starved fans but a full stack to fight in the octagon on May 16 this year at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Executive Vice President and General Manager of UFC Asia Ken Berger officially announced the first ever UFC Fight Night in Manila in a press conference Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena Coral lobby.
"We are thrilled to be kicking off our Asia series in Manila this year. The UFC has a loyal and passionate fan base in the Philippines and we're looking forward to bringing the very best mixed martial arts to Manila for the first time," Berger said.
UFC partnered with SM Lifestyle Entertainment to make the dream event come true after the Sy-owned Arena's string of successful international events that started with the first NBA Global Game in Manila in 2013.
"We are really excited to have the first UFC event in the Philippines," SM Lifestyle Entertainment President Edgar Tejerero.
"We are making sure that this event will be successful, that's why we are carefully studying all other considerations to determine the ticket prices. We'll be announcing that two months prior to the event," Tejerero added.
There is a strong possibility that Filipino fighters Mark Munoz and Mark Eddiva will be in the fight card, but that will all depend on The Filipino Wrecking Machine's fight against Roan Carneiro at UFC 184 on Feb. 28 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"Our matchmakers are working on it. It's a complicated process. We're watching how our fighters perform, how the local fighters play out so it's a long and complicated process," Berger said.
Asked if there is a chance that former WWE star-turned MMA fighter CM Punk will see action here in May, Berger nixed that as the organization is leaning towards using his popularity in the pay-per-view fight cards.
Talks of bringing a UFC fight card here in Manila started since 2011, but it took four years to materialize. And now that it's finally happening, the world's largest MMA organization wanted it to be not just a one-and-done affair.