WHILE mixed martial arts is slowly gaining popularity in the country, Team Lakay, after successfully defending their crowns in the Universal Reality Combat Championship, is set to have the first Team Lakay MMA Elimination tournament on December 23 at the Baguio Convention Center.

Mark Sangiao, Team Lakay head coach, said the MMA elimination will pit top Cordillera mixed martial artists against the country's top MMA fighters.

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Sangiao said the tournament aims to popularize the sport in the region, which has been dominated by Cordillerans in past years winning in various competitions.

"We want to let them know that the good mixed martial artists come from Baguio and Cordillera," he said.

The MMA Elimination will pit Cordillera pride Jerome Lamabas against Iranian Razzi Jabari in the main event.

Lumabas, a former Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games gold medalist in Indonesia and wushu bronze medalist in Thailand will have his hands full against Jabari, URCC veteran and Fearless Fighting Champion in the middle weight division.

However, Sangiao said the match is a non-titled bout but both fighters will battle it out in a five round epic.

FFC Pin weight Joel Amurao will slug it out against Muay Thai specialist Charles de Thomas in the other bout.

Kick boxing and Muay Thai artist George Lusadan will face a tough foe in Harold Bucayo who is set to challenge Lusadan's kickboxing and Muay Thai expertise in the other curtain raiser.

Joseph Pasiwat of Team Lakay, a known kickboxer, will face Jay Madron of Batangas.

URCC campaigner Charlie Angel and former Philippine Muay Thai team Armando Daligdig will also have their face off in the MMA Elimination.

On the other hand, Felix Sangiao will test his mettle against former Muay Thai Philippine team member and kickboxing champion of Hong Kong Billy Cabento.

Other bouts in the curtain raisers include Erwin Focad against Anthony Olidan, Ryan Tablac versus Rabin Catalan, Remsem Alangsab and Joey Dulnuan, and Biondi Dayangadang against Richard Sabrine.

In the distaff, Wushu national champion Gina Iniong will battle kickboxing national champion Maricel Provido.

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu.

(December 16, 2008 issue)
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