Pages: Has MMA outkicked the sport of boxing?

Thursday, January 12, 2012

THE world of boxing is lucky. There’s Manny Pacquiao. Without him, who’d be the superstar? Other sports have plenty. There’s Lionel Messi, Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic; there’s LBJ and KB; there’s Michael Phelps.

Boxing? Take out our Pinoy pride and there’s no more Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Wasn’t boxing centered on the heavyweights? Yes. It was. Yes, that’s the past tense.
Because heavyweight-superstars have disappeared.

Mixed martial arts? I confess, years back, to switching channels when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was shown on SkyCable’s Balls channel. It was too bloody.

Muscled men hugged and exchanged embraces. Someone was sure to die from this!!!

But, as time passed and superstar names like Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, Brock Lesnar and, now, Jon “Bones” Jones appeared, I’ve gotten to like the MMA.

In fact, I’ve gotten to really like the UFC. I’m just as excited to watch an upcoming Gladiator-like UFC contest as I am in watching tennis or running.

Tomorrow, Friday, I’ll finally get the chance to watch this sport in person. Together with my neighbor on this page, Atty. Jingo Quijano, I’ll be at the CICC for the URCC-Cebu 7. URCC stands for Universal Reality Combat Championship and the event is entitled, “Dominate.”

“Undefeated kickboxing star Renante ‘Limbas’ Noblefranca of Yaw-Yan ArDigma has vowed a swift knockout victory as he faces Brazilian Jiu-jitsu specialist Jonathan Sumugat,” wrote my fellow sportswriter Lemuel Maglinte, himself a mixed-martial artist.

Noblefranca, only 19, has fought 28 times (wow, how old did he start, at 12 years old?). Last year at the sixth edition of the URCC-Cebu, he won a first round TKO.

“Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma CEO/Founder and Vis-Min director Master Benigno “Ekin” R. Caniga, Jr. expressed his confidence not only on Noblefranca but also on his other two boys that will be showing their stuff in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) card. They are Geronimo Etac and Roel Rosauro,” continued Lemuel in his story. “Etac will challenge URCC Visayas pinweight title-holder Victor Torre of Bacolod City , while Rosauro will figure in a grudge rematch of sort against Arnel Ylanan of Mandaue’s Bullet Fighting System.”

NBA’S HEAT. As Kobe Bryant fan Samsam Gullas predicted, LeBron James and Miami are dominating. They’ve lost only twice in 10 outings. Given that there are only 66 games in this shortened season, there’s little doubt they’ll secure the No.1 playoff spot... and cruise to victory in the NBA Finals this June. Why is the Heat so hot? The reasons are obvious. Unlike last season, when the pressure was boiling, this time, they’re relaxed. After 12 months, Bosh and Wade and LBJ have gotten to know each other better.

Just like the recent celebration of the Three Kings, these Three Kings of Florida will soon wear that NBA ring.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN. With tennis, the first major event of the year begins on Monday.

Dubbed as the Grand Slam event of “Asia and the Pacific,” it started in 1905 and was first played on grass. Now, the surface (like the US Open) is hard-court.

Rod Laver Arena is their center court. I’ve been fortunate to have met and have my photo taken with the man acknowledged as one of the greatest ever (he’s the only player, male or female, to have capture two Grand Slams—that’s four majors in one calendar year; back in 1962 and 1969). I met Mr. Laver in New York 13 years ago. That photo counts as one of my favorites.

The good news for us, tennis fans? TV coverage. While we’ve missed watching the Masters Series events on TV the past two years, for the Grand Slam events, they’re showing the full, two-week-long coverage.

(john@pages.ph)