i Fighting Championships to pay tribute to SAF 44

How you wished that you could have fought for the SAF 44. Here is your chance!

i Fighting Championships, a brand-new professional fight league supported by top names in the Philippine fighting industry, will pay tribute to the fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos during the promotion’s premiere event this March 28 at the Solaire Resort and Casino Grand Ballroom.

Aptly titled “A Salute to the #Fallen44,” the event will feature five muay thai and five mixed-martial arts (MMA) bouts in a stacked 10-match fight card in its initial offering. As a sign of solidarity and support for the fallen men, the entire proceeds of the event will benefit the bereaved families and dependents of the SAF Unit “Tagaligtas” that fought against rebel insurgents in Mampasapano, Maguindanao.

Tickets are priced at P5,000 for Super VIP ringside seats, P2,500 for the VIP section and P1,000 for general admission tickets.

The league is the brainchild of the tandem of World Team Muay Thai and MMA gym founder Tony Reyes and The Goat Locker Gym’s Ferdie Munsayac.

Reyes, the incumbent vice-president of World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai, was responsible for bringing in top-notch muay thai fight cards in the Fight for Peace and Kunlun Fight 4 World Tour events held in the country.

Munsayac, on the other hand, launched UnderGround Battle, the country’s biggest amateur MMA circuit and springboard for the recognition of the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) through the Juego Todo Hybrid Fighting System.

With his deep connection as part of the military, Munsayac saw this initial event as an opportunity to give back to the families of the fallen heroes.

“I have been part of the US Navy for years and it’s a cause that hits close to home,” said Munsayac, a retired United States Navy chief. “These brave men sacrificed a lot for our country, and it’s fitting that we pay tribute to them in our first-ever event.”

The event is sanctioned by WBC Muay Thai, and is co-presented by World Team Muay Thai and MMA, The Goat Locker Gym, and UnderGround Battle. Official media partners are Fullcourtfresh.com, Sports On Air, and When In Manila.