Tuesday, December 23, 2008 City all set for MMA eliminations
ALL eyes will be on a former boxer from the Philippine team, Jerome "Jeronimo" Lumabas of Bauko, Mountain Province and Buguias, in the first Team Lakay Mixed Martial Eliminations at the Baguio Convention Center on Tuesday.
Lumabas will face URCC veteran and Fearless Fighting middle weight champion Razzi "Iranian" Jabari on December 23 which starts at 6 p.m. and sponsored by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., Ensayo Gym, Gerco Hardware, Shape-Up Boxing Gym, General Eugene Martin, Alabanza Meat Store, 50's Dinner, and Pepper Mix.
Marquez Sangiao, coach of Team Lakay, said the potential of Baguio as a training ground for mixed martial arts is high.
He 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.
Sangiao said they are working out the possibility of promoting the city as a center of mixed martial arts with the support of the City Government and the Department of Tourism.
According to him, mixed martial arts is also becoming more popular with the appreciation for events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Universal Reality Combat Championship.
Team Lakay alone has around 50 to 70 members in Baguio and La Trinidad. Sangiao said other provinces in the region have also expressed interest in putting up their own mixed martial arts teams.
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 versus Joey Dulnuan, and Biondi Dayangadang against Richard Sabrine.
In the distaff, Wushu national champion Gina Iniong will battle kickboxing national champion Maricel Provido. (Roderick Osis)
