UFC sets Philippine debut

MANILA, Philippines - The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s long-awaited fightcard in Manila may finally be staged in May or June. 

UFC Asia chief Mark Fischer said negotiations with potential partners headed by television giant ABS-CBN and its sports cable channel Balls are ongoing.

“We’re talking about May or June, perhaps it could be sooner,” Fischer told mediamen in a meeting at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City recently.

“We’re happy with how things are developing and we’re really making progress. This country is the best place to hold an event in Southeast Asia and ABS-CBN and Balls are going to be great partners in making this dream possible,” he added.

Fischer accompanied UFC middleweight campaigner Cung Le when he held a benefit training session to raise funds for Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.

News of the UFC, the world’s top and most prestigious mixed martial arts outfit in the world, going to the Phl has been circulating in recent years.

The UFC has already held fightcards in Korea, Japan, Macau, China and recently in Southeast Asia in Singapore.