URCC Cebu IV: Proving Grounds on June 20 at CICC

CEBU, Philippines - Swashbuckling Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action returns to the Queen City of the South with the staging of Colt 45 Universal Reality Combat Championship Cebu IV: Proving Grounds on June 20 at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Two main fight cards highlight the MMA event as warriors from Cebu, Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Canada and England will tradepunishing blows and grapple their way to glory.

For the first time, four URCC Visayas belts will be at stake in the slambang show.

Engie “The Destroyer” Piloto of Yaw-Yan Cebu Ardigma vies for the URCC Visayas featherweight belt when he goes up against 2007 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games wushu gold medallist Mark Ediva of Baguio’s Lakay Wushu, which boasts of four URCC title-holders in its fold.

The undefeated Piloto, 27, is expected to face an acid test against Ediva, whose champion-laden Lakay Wushu squad is renowned for its high-altitude training in the cold mountains of the country’s summer capital.

Piloto, who made his debut in URCC Cebu 3, will capitalize on his speed, accuracy and superior ground control, while Ediva is expected to bank on his endurance and championship experience.

The other feature of the explosive double-header pits Canadian Sabah “The Persian Warrior” Fadai against unbeaten Andrew Benibe of Manila‘s Maics Gym.

The Vancouver-native Fadai fights under the Revolution Fight Team–Deftac Cebu and trains at the CJRS MMA Center.

The clash between powerful striker Fadai and freestyle fighter Benibe is anticipated to be a blast that would thrill the spectators to the bones.

Prior to his upcoming URCC debut, the 23-year-old Fadai racked up a 3-1 win-loss record as an MMA professional in Canada.

A Muay Thai instructor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner under Gracie Barra Philippines, Fadai on the featherweight and white belt open weight division gold medals in last year’s Philippine International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open.

On the other hand, the 25-year-old Benibe is unscathed in three URCC fights. Fresh from victory at the Rogue Magazine Black Tie Brawl, he also made it to the quarterfinals in Real Pinoy Fighter.

Seven more matches have been lined up as appetizer for MMA disciples.

 Leo “The Sandman” Gaerlan of Cebu’s Yaw-Yan Musang and the country’s reigning featherweight Muay Thai champion Leonard “The One” Delarmino of Iloilo’s Capanay MMA Stable will mix it up for the URCC Visayas bantamweight plum.

Two well-rounded Cebuano combatants will cross paths for the URCC Visayas flyweight title - Maxlito “The Hyper Eagle” Yong of Yaw-Yan Musang and Alvin “The Heat” Amistoso of Mifis Tudo Judo.

In the last of the quadruple title showdown, Cebu’s Demetrio “The Standard” De la Torre of CMAC Main squares off against Iloilo’s Philip “The Stinger” Delarmino of Capanay MMA Stable for the URCC Visayas pinweight belt. – Marigold P. Lebumfacil (THE FREEMAN)