‘Overcoming death’

AN EXHILARATING night of MMA action ended in an anticlimactic fashion after Cary “The Prince” Bullos won a quick but controversial stoppage over Japanese Hideo “Death from Tokyo” Morikawa in the main event of Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) Cebu VIII – Survival last Saturday night at the J Centre Convention Hall.

Bullos (6-2) landed a hard punch that sent Morikawa (4-3) to the canvas. He immediately unleashed some huge punches but referee Christian Wong quickly stepped in to stop the bout in 59 seconds of the first round in what looked like a premature stoppage.

Despite the controversial conclusion, Wong felt that stopping the fight was the correct decision at that moment because Morikawa was not fit to continue.

“His eyes rolled back and he wasn’t conscious. He went out again when he was hit with another punch. That’s why I stopped it,” Wong told Sun.Star Cebu.

Morikawa was puzzled that the fight was stopped by Wong because he felt that he wasn’t
hurt by Bullos’ punches.

“I was still okay. I want a rematch in the next URCC,” said the 27-year-old Japanese.

Bullos, the URCC Visayas bantamweight champion, welcomes a rematch, which is already being worked out by URCC founder Alvin Aguilar.

“If he wants a rematch, I have no problem with that. I could have knocked him out cold if the referee didn’t stop me,” said the 31-year-old Cebuano MMA star.

“I’ll give him the rematch most probably in March. I will finalize it later,” said Aguilar.

Jimmy Yabo (8-0, 1 NC) remained unbeaten after knocking veteran Lorde Rey Yamit (7-4) out cold in the 9:28 mark of the first round with a vicious right hook in the main supporting bout.

Vaughn Donayre (4-0) fulfilled his prediction after a first round submission over 38-year-old Allan Atup (5-3) via an armbar in the two-minute mark.

In the undercard, Jeremey Quinonero (1-2) handed Yaw-Yan Ardigma warrior Roel Rosauro (4-1) his first career defeat via a majority decision; Moises Nodala (1-0) scored a second-round technical knockout over Ervin Musico (0-1); Arnel Ylanan (1-0) edged out Johnjher Torbiso (2-3) by split decision; Alex Abraham (1-0) finished last-minute replacement Junrey Soquite (0-1) in the first round with an armbar; and Leo Rodrigo (2-1) ended Rodel Legarde’s night with a rear-naked choke in the first round.