The Philippines’ first mixed martial arts promotion will make its return to the Marriot Grand Ballroom in Newport, Paranaque City, on Sunday, November 6, with a stacked card.
Headlining URCC 28: Vindication are four championship bouts, including the crowning of the first-ever URCC Women’s Flyweight Championship as Geli Bulaong (1-0) takes on Chinese fighter Yan Qihui (1-0). Bulaong made her URCC debut during URCC 27, taking a third-round submission win over Jen Damaso.
Filipino Wunderkind and URCC Bantamweight Champion CJ De Tomas (6-0) and URCC Featherweight Champion Do Gyeon Lee (2-1) are also set to make their first title defenses. De Tomas will face URCC lifer Alvin Ramirez (7-6) while the Korean champion faces debuting Hawaiian Ryan dela Cruz (3-2).
In a fight of the night candidate, URCC Light Heavyweight Champion Chris Hofmann (4-1) will drop down in weight to face rising star John Adajar (1-0) for the vacant Middleweight Championship. The Filipino-Swiss Hofman is coming off three straight knockout wins, including come-from-behind wins against Caloy Baduria and Arvin Chan. The “Outlaw”, though, is one of the brightest prospects in the local circuit, even winning the WLC crown two years ago.
A dream of one fighter will be fulfilled as well as the finale of the Fight Farm series is also scheduled for the card. Jiar Castillo and Norman “The Gunman” Agcopra outlasted 14 other fighters to enter the finals of the flyweight tournament with the winner gaining a guaranteed URCC contract.
In a special attraction bout, the league will also hold the first-ever 3-on-3 MMA bout. Middleweights Arvin Chan and Panchito Estroso will chieftain their teams. Team Chan will include Jaypee Espinosa, and John Rey Larena, while Team Estroso will consist of Patrick dos Santos, and Mark Palomar. The match will be an elimination-style, team contest.
The undercard is stacked as well.
Miguel Mosquera (2-1) will make his URCC return as he takes on Reydon Romero. Upstart Drex Zamboanga (5-2) faces Sem Bicaldo (1-0) while Solomon Dultra versus Mark Joseph Abrillo and flyweights Arjay Ortega Bongala and Rodian Menchavez round-up the card.
URCC 28: Vindication card
Sunday, November 6, 2016 – Marriot Grand Ballroom, Paranaque City
Vacant URCC Middleweight Championship: Chris Hofmann vs John Adajar
URCC Featherweight Championship: Do Gyeom Lee vs Ryan dela Cruz
URCC Flyweight Championship: CJ de Tomas vs Alvin Ramirez
First-ever URCC Women’s Flyweight Championship: Geli Bulaong vs Yan Qi Hui
Fight Farm Finals: Jiar Castillo vs. Norman Agcopra
Exhibition bout: Team Chan vs. Team Estoro
Featherweight bout: Red Romero vs. Miguel Mosquera
Strawweight bout: Solomon Dutra vs. MJ Abrillo
Bantamweight bout: Drex Zamboanga vs. Sem Bicaldo
Bantamweight bout: Arjay Bongala vs. Rodian Menchavez
