Grassroots program for mixed martial arts in Cebu launched

CEBU, Philippines - Yaw-Yan ArDigma Martial Arts Federation, Inc. takes another major step in Cebu's Mixed Martial Arts scene after launching the first ever amateur MMA tournament in the region dubbed as ‘Cebu Extreme Fight League” set for August 16 at the Cebu Coliseum.

Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu founder and CEO Master Benigno ‘Ekin’ R. Caniga, Jr. said in a press conference yesterday that he organized the Cebu Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Promotions to head-hunt for talents and develop aspiring MMA warriors who are potential enough to represent Cebu in amateur tournaments in Manila before trying their luck in the professional stage.

The Cebu Extreme Fight League will be held four times a year wherein the participants with the most number of wins will have a chance to represent the Queen City of the South in either the Amateur Fighting Champions Balikatan MMA Amateur series or Collision MMA.

Caniga hopes that his latest venture will provide fighters who lack foundation and experience an opportunity to showcase their skills in the sport and in the process boost their confidence level.

“This will serve as a grassroots program for MMA here in Cebu,” said Master Ekin. “I have always been promoting MMA here but the quality and number of fighters are getting low so I decided that an amateur tournament will help us to develop and mold homegrown MMA stars in the future.”

Aside from the host Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu Gym, other MMA clubs who already expressed interest to support Master Ekin's latest endeavor are the One Cebu MMA, Warrior MMA, Xanadu MMA, Redneos Gladiator Talisay and Durex Dragon Kickboxing.

Since it will be an amateur tilt, fighters will deal with a three-minute per round during bouts, shorter than the five-minute per round used in professional fights. The competitors will use a standard MMA gloves, but they wikll wear headgears.

The weight classes to be contested are the strawweight (115 lbs.), flyweight (125 lbs.), bantamweight (135 lbss.) featherweight (145 lbss.) and lightweight (155 lbs.). There will also be special categories for women' and kids. (FREEMAN)