UFC makes Manila debut

MANILA, Philippines - The Universal Fighting  makes its live event debut in Manila when it brings the Octagon to the Mall of Asia Arena on  May 16 with the staging of UFC Fight Night Manila: Edgar vs Faber. 

The main event will see former lightweight champion and current No. 1 featherweight mixed martial artist Frankie “The Answer” Edgar against fellow American Urijah “The California Kid” Faber in a five-round featherweight battle at 145 pounds.

Also confirmed for the event is Baguio bet Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1) who will have the MOA gallery behind him when he takes on skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Jon delos Reyes (7-4) of Tamuning, Guam in a flyweight tilt.

Also joining the event is Filipino striking specialist Mark Eddiva, who will meet American Alex White.

In another bout,  The Ultimate Fighter China winner Zhang “The Warrior” Lipeng (9-8-1) from  Beijing, fights  in a lightweight clash against “Rajan” Kajan Johnson  (19-12-1) from  Montreal, Canada.  Korea’s “Supernatural” Tae Hyun Bang (17-8), fighting out of Seoul, takes on rising prospect Jon “The Super Saiyan” Tuck (8-2), of  Hagatna, Guam in a lightweight fight that highlights two emerging MMA markets in Asia.

 In a welterweight bout, Li “The Leech” Jingliang (9-3) from Beijing  takes on The Ultimate Fighter: Edgar vs. Penn veteran Roger ‘Viva’ Zapata (4-1) from New York, New York.

Another Ultimate Fighter China steps back in the Octagon when Yao Zhikui (1-2) of  Beijing, China) meets dynamic Nolan Ticman (4-2)  of Huntington Beach, Calif.) in their debut at 125 pounds.