CEBU, Philippines - Bakbakan na!
The country’s favorite mixed martial art fighter Eduard “Landslide” Folayang is ready to give Brazilian Wadson Teixeira a rude welcome to the country in the superfight battle of the Colt 45 URCC Cebu 7 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City tonight.
Aside from the Folayang-Teixeira battle, two Visayas championship bouts and six other supporting matches will be featured tonight in Cebu’s biggest mixed martial arts event ever.
URCC founder Alvin Aguilar wants no less than a big bang to open the year.
Fighters were still in a friendly mood yesterday when they faced the media in a press conference yesterday at the Veranda at Parkmall.
“Everything happens in MMA, but I’ve prepared myself for this fight. Anything can be predicted, but I would look into his (Teixeira) strength and weaknesses first then let’s just see what happens next,” said former national wushu standout Folayang.
Teixeira for his part, showed big respect to the reigning URCC welterweight king, but says he will use his skills in Muay Thai to score a win.
“It’s gonna be a big fight.I have a lot of respect for Folayang, but I’m gonna win this one,” said Teixeira through an interpreter.
This is Folayang’s “homecoming” fight.
Aside from Folayang, reigning Visayas bantamweight champion Rex de Lara who made it to the weight limit at 139 after the presscon is ready to defend his title against Carry “The Prince” Bullos of Sel-Def MMA.
De Lara, who calls Bullos as the best fighter in Cebu, weighed 140.3 pounds during his first weigh in yesterday while Bullos was 137. On the other hand, Yaw-yan’s Geronimo Etac is confident to dethrone Deftac-Bacolod’s Victor Torre as the Visayan pinweight king.
“I’m going to get the title from Torre,” said Etac.
Aside from Etac, two other Yaw-yan bets are set for the battle with Roel Rosauro facing Bullet Fighting System’s Arnel Ylanan and Renan Noble Franca versus Jonathan Sumogat both in a flyweight match.
Sel-Def, for its part, will also have the silent operator Jimmy Yabo against Butuan’s Urtych Alarin in a featherweight match.
Another Butuan fighter, lightweight Alcer Lozada takes on Richie Redman of Iloilo as last minute replacement Samuel Estandarti faces Bullet’s Alde de Soza in a featherweight action.
With the quality bouts the event has, a full house attendance is expected by Cebu organizer Renault Lao. (FREEMAN)