MANILA, Philippines - La Salle’s Meeshal Al Khuzeem and Jojo Tabang will be gunning for their fourth straight victory when they collide against separate rivals in the Colt 45-Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) University Challenge 2011 on Friday at 1 Esplanade in Pasay City.
Al Khuzeem is out to reaffirm his supremacy over Jet Hermida of Technological Institute of the Philippines in their catchweight tussle while Tabang takes on Edgar Panaguiton of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila in the pinweight class.
The organizing URCC, headed by Alvin Aguilar, is hoping the 16-fight mixed martial arts event presented by Colt 45 will finally gain recognition as a sport and be included in the sports calendar of various collegiate leagues in the country.
So far, only La Salle, Ateneo and University of the Philippines have an official MMA club.
“By staging this event, we hope that more universities and colleges will establish their own MMA club so that the sport will become part of their sports calendar,” said Aguilar.
The opening match of the event also backed by Tribal Gear with Solar Sports, Rogue Magazine, 99.5rt, Synermaxx, TFC Bro Channel, and Pinoy Extreme Channel as media partners is scheduled at 7 p.m. Tickets are now available through Ticketworld (8919999). For more details, visit its website at www.urccmma.com.
Two other La Salle fighters – Robert Tan and JR Rulloda – are also out to show their stuff against Matthew Palomar of University of the East and Ronald Allan Castro of New Era College, respectively.
Also expect high-level grappling and striking when bantamweight Fadi Alhamoui of University of Regina Carmeli tangles with the exciting Jessie Jurial of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the tournament also supported by Frenzy Condoms, Yoshinoya, VRP Medical Center, and Chris Sport.
Back after a disappointing defeat last year, Champ Aljama of Pamantasang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa faces Demosthenes Juanatas Jr. Of Centro Escolar Universitry while UP’s Charles Alo collides with Jerome Concepcion in the pinweight class.