Folayang wary of Hawaiian foe in URCC

FILIPINO mix martial arts superstar Eduard Folayang remains puzzled over his next opponent when he steps inside the ring for the 22nd edition of the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) in December.

With his opponent virtually unknown, Folayang has yet to carve out his game plan for the December 1 match-up at the SM MOA Arena against Lowen Tynanes of EWA Beach Boxing Club and 808 Fight Factory in the promotions main event with the 155 lbs. catch weight belt at stake.

“I still need to see some of his tapes, how he fights, how are his skills,” said Folayang, who took time out from training and visit San Juan for the Surfing Break.

Dubbed Colt 45 URCC 22: Dekada, Folayang, together with undefeated Filipino and fellow Baguio-born fighter Eric Kelly, will headline the country’s premiere mix martial arts event.

“Without the tapes, baka mahirapan ako kasi alam naman natin medyo hungry manalo yung mga fighters na di masyadong kilala,” added the URCC welterweight champion.

URCC, in their website, said both fighters are powerfully built, well conditioned, both have heavy hands and when given the chance to ground and pound they will surely inflict damage on their opponents.

Undefeated Kelly, meanwhile, will seek his 9th career win when he faces Brad Terry, a product of the Phuket Top Team with one loss in his MMA record.

Kelly will defend his featherweight crown and is seen to repeat his winning ways in his homeland the Philippines and MMA home, the URCC and the favored fighter against Terry.

But he will have his hands full against the Muay Thai striker and budding MMA fighter who is quite big for his size as a featherweight.

The URCC event will also feature a stacked card with flyweights Janel Lanusa of Bacolod Muay Thai squaring off against Rami Crisostomo (Red Boxing) with Roy Doliguez (Elorde MMA) and Dennis Salazar (World MMA).

Spartan Sumogat (Cenojas MMA) will square off against Alvin Ramirez (Yawyan Buhawi) in the pinweight while action in the featherweights will see Red Romero (DEFTAC) against Sulpiano Laurio (Sprawl MMA).

Sugar Ray Estrada of Ground and Pound MMA and Caloy Baduria of Elorde MMA will face off in a catchweight.

While Jessi Raffols (D’Elements) takes on Keiff Mangusan (Baguio Top Team) for the bantamweight championship and Onyok Transmonte (MAP Makati) against Hideo Morikawa (Zendukai Philippines). (Roderick Osis)