[nextpage title = “What is the WLC?”]
There’s a new kid in town for the local MMA scene!
What is the WLC?
The Warrior’s League Championship started with a dream by its organizer and main visionary Carlo Agulto and the National Muay Thai Kickboxing Council of the Philippines. Conceptualized at the Gulp Club in Panay Avenue in Quezon City, the WLC became a regular fixture in its home at the Busters Bistro, with 10 Mixed Martial Arts fight nights in one tournament season (think Bellator MMA).
The tournament events are jointly undertaken by Warrior’s League Championship Entertainment & Production, Inc. (WLCEPI) and National Muay Thai Kickboxing Council of the Philippines (NMKBCP). At present, it is the only MMA event conducting two to three fight cards a month. It has attracted not only male but also female warriors and as well as foreign fighters.
The Tournament Format
The WLC highlights ten weight categories: super flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, and super middleweight.
All fights are professional bouts and are officially sanctioned by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and officiated by the NMKBCP. The fighters are awarded by the WLCEPI, in accordance with the GAB’s rules and regulations.
During tune-up and pre-qualification bouts, the fighters are required to wear head protection. These bouts are three rounds of three minutes each.
For semifinals and championship bouts, the fighters are no longer required to wear head gears. These bouts will also be for three rounds but are scheduled to be five minutes each. Winners of championship bouts will be awarded a championship belt and will have to defend their title the following tournament staging.
WLC Season 1 Finale
The culminating event of WLC Season 1 will be on February 28, 2015, 7:00 pm at the San Andres Sports Complex, San Andres St., Malate in Manila City. VIP tickets are priced at PhP 1,500 per entry and will include seating and buffet.
WLC S01 Finale Fight Card
Zamboanga-Hara Super Bantamweight Championship Match
Filipino MMA warrior and National Wrestling team member Drex Zamboanga faces off against Japanese Judoka Tomoki Hara as the main event of the WLC Season 1 finale.
Both Zamboanga and Hara are undefeated in their MMA careers. Also a practitioner of Brazilian Jiujitsu and Karate, Zamboaga of Tough Guys Gym will trade blows with Hara of Zandokai, a former AFC champion.
Grudge Match for the Lightweight Championship
A highlight match is the bout for the WLC Lightweight Championship between Jiujitsu practitioner and National Wrestling team member Neil Larano against pro boxer Mario Sismundo. It will be a classic grappler vs. striker bout that will tear the roof off the San Andres Sports Complex.
[/nextpage] [nextpage title = “WLC S01 Weight-In”]
All fighters from the 10 deep card made weight for the season finale of inaugural season of the Warrior’s League Championship. Here are the results:
Warrior’s League Championship Season 1 Finale Weigh-in results*
February 27, 2015 – Busters Bistro, Panay Avenue, Quezon City
WLC Super Bantamweight Championship: Drex Zamboanga (135) vs. Toboki Hara (135)
WLC Lightweight Championship: Neil Larano (153) vs. Mario Sismundo (154)
WLC Super Flyweight Championship: Jovan Galarosa (113) vs. Erdie Bautista (113)
WLC Bantamweight Championship: CJ de Tomas (1st attempt: 126, 2nd: 125) vs. Felixander Bagayao (120)
WLC Featherweight Championship: Rex de Lara (144) vs. Amir Mohammed (145)
WLC Super Lightweight Championship: Arben Escayo (163) vs. **
Catchweight (189lbs) Bout: Mark Palomar (189) vs. John Andajar (189)
Super Flyweight Bout: Jomar Bislig (110) vs. Romelito Liloc (110)
Super Flyweight Bout: Alejo Corpuz (114) vs. Jerome Concepcion (110)
Bantamweight Bout: Nilo Vidal (125) vs. Jian Castillo (125)
*All in pounds
**Don Don Aron, the original opponent, failed a medical exam. An opponent has been found and has made weight
[/nextpage]
