URCC in fiery return

The biggest, baddest and boldest version of Filipino-style ultimate fighting comes off the wraps in the fourth Universal Reality Combat Championships (URCC) at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque tomorrow night.

Mixed martial arts promoter Alvin Aguilar has lined up 15 fights, including six title bouts, in an action-packed card billed the "Return to the Dungeon" starting 7 p.m.

It will be a explosive comeback at the Casino Filipino where the URCC broke ground before a packed crowd in "Mayhem in Manila" in November 2002. Since the inaugural sellout, URCC has held two blockbuster events —-"Night of Champions" at the PhilSports Arena in April last year and "Siege at the Fort" at the NBC Tent in the Global City last September.

Aguilar said "Return to the Dungeon" will outdo the previous URCC barnburners. He pointed out that tomorrow’s URCC will feature hardened veterans in grudge duels, a strike-only tournament headlining four crack contenders, six championship bouts and Viva Hot Babes as round girls.

Five mixed martial arts titles and a strike-only crown are up for grabs.

Former pro boxer Rolando Pritos takes on Louie Sangalang for the featherweight title. Ravinger (Stone Cold) Sogi of the Rage Gym battles freestyle wrestler T. J. Tiu of La Salle for the heavyweight diadem. Sogi knocked out a Philippine karate team member in a qualifying match to earn the shot at the title.

Aden Zarco of the Strikes and Submission stable faces Southeast Asian Games wushu gold medalist Mark Sangiao, fresh from training in China, for the bantamweight plum. Caloy Baduria meets Mike Banayad of Suntukaran Todo Bakbakan in a grudge rematch for the welterweight title. They fought to a draw in URCC II. Unbeaten Richard Lasprilla of DEFTAC tangles with former pro boxer and Muay Thai veteran Charlie Angel of the Way of the Champions stable for the flyweight championship.

Victor Tirso fights Lino Tagacay and Aljon Corporal tests the mettle of Arnel Arancina in the strike-only eliminators which are the curtain raisers. The winners advance to dispute the title in a later match on the same card.

The highlight of the show is the Lasprilla-Angel main event. Lasprilla is undefeated in three URCC bouts, trouncing Hermes Bueza via submission on a rear naked choke in URCC I, stopping Ronald Gavileno also on a rear naked choke in URCC II and halting Rolly Chulhang on a triangle choke in URCC III. Angel, who has fought extensively in kickboxing smokers in Thailand, was impressive in knocking out Zaldy Integro in URCC II and DETFAC’s Populi Gutierrez in URCC III. It’ll be a classic confrontation between a grappler in Lasprilla and a striker in Angel.

Another bout to watch is the Baduria-Banayad grudge rematch. Their first encounter was foul-plagued, intense and bitter. They engaged in unnecessary rough stuff and trash talk. Both felt they deserved to win after the draw was declared. Since the fight, Baduria has polished his grappling skills training under Dr. Sixto Carlos, one of the best weapons instructions in Philippine martial arts. Banayad warmed up for the rematch by knocking out Jauhn Dablo in 30 seconds in URCC III.

Fighters from 19 stables are converging at Casino Filipino. Among the stables are Sari-an, Bullhandead, Strike ‘N’ Shoot Grapplers Zone, Hybrid Yaw-Yan (Sayaw ng Kamatayan), Reamico Jiu-Jitsu, and Malayan Kanfu. Aguilar said the country’s top mixed martial arts practitioners are coming together to showcase their skills for pride and money. Aside from appearance fees, winners earn a bonus of P10,000.

The URCC recognizes nine weight divisions–pinweight (110-119 pounds), flyweight (120-129), bantamweight (130-139), featherweight (140-149), lightweight (150-159), welterweight (160-169), middleweight (170-179), lightheavyweight (180-189) and heavyweight (190-above).

Mixed martial arts bouts are scheduled for two 10-minute rounds. A fight is stopped on a tap-out, if the referee steps in, a corner throws in the towel, a fighter is knocked out and the ringside physician halts the contest. A draw is automatically declared if the fight goes the distance. Fighters use 14-ounce fingerless gloves and are barefooted.

In strike-only contests, the ways to win are by submission, three knockdowns in a round, a knockout, a corner throws in the towel, the ringside physician halts the action, and the judges’ decision. No grappling is allowed in the three five-minute rounds.

Aguilar said URCC prohibits butting, eye gouging, biting, hair-pulling, fish-hooking, groin attacks, small joint manipulation, pinching, striking the spine or nape, throat strikes, pinching, grabbing the clavicle, kicking or kneeing the head of a fallen opponent, kicking the kidney with the heel, spiking to the canvas, throwing an opponent out of the ring, spitting, elbow strikes, timidity and any hold which puts a strain on the neck joint.

Tickets for URCC IV are available at the Red Corner Gym (Tel. 867-8059), Unit 26 PC, Eisenhower Condo, Greenhills (Tel. 721-3749 or 721-6809) and the Casino Filipino gate.