King of the Cage MMA set to debut in Manila
On of the world's most established brands in Mixed Martial Arts will explode in the Philippines on Friday, July 5.
King of the Cage Worldwide will feature its first ever Philippine fight card in the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The main event will see American Sean Strickland stake his KOTC World Middleweight belt against Yuske Sakashita of Japan. It will be the Californian's third defense of his title, and the bout is scheduled for five rounds.
“You can say your stand-up (game) is better than mine or your grappling is better than mine. But whatever you give me, I've got an answer” says Strickland, who has an 11-0 pro record and has been fighting professionally since he was sixteen. He has a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu background and says he got his start in illegal, unsanctioned bouts when he was only fourteen years old.
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In the other main event, Korea's Kaleo Kwan will face off against another American, Joe Condon. Condon was originally supposed to fight Hawaiian Lowen Tynanes for Tynanes' KOTC Junior Welterweight (160 lbs) belt, but that matchup was nixed when the champ suffered a broken nose.
According to KOTC founder Terry Trebilcock, Tynanes will be out anywhere from eight to twelve weeks, but the victor in the Condon-Kwan non-title bout will likely face him sometime down the road for the belt.
Ten other fights featuring Filipino pugilists are also slated for Friday. One of the most highly anticipated bouts is between Fil-Am Reign Sotto and Uno Legaspi in the Welterweight (170 lbs) division.
Sotto is a full-blooded, Pampanga-born Filipino from San Diego, California who is fighting his first professional fight after amassing a 5-1 amateur record.
“I tried to kick his liver area and he blocked it with his arm and it broke” said Sotto sheepishly. Sotto, fighting out of Submission Sports gym, can thank his Muay Thai training for that vicious strike.
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The biggest name in MMA who will be at MOA Arena on Friday won't be fighting, but will nonetheless be creating a stir.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is one of the most colorful and beloved characters in the MMA firmament, and he is attending this fight card as a special guest.
“I started in King of the Cage. Without King of the Cage there would be no Rampage” he told the media at Thursday's press conference and weigh-in at Solaire Hotel and Casino.
“I really wish I could fight here” added the American, who has previously held the UFC Light Heavyweight title.
Another big name in attendance on Friday is referee Herb Dean. Recognized as one of the finest referees in MMA, Dean has officiated thousands of fights all over the world.
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“This place (the Philippines) has always been on the radar” said Dean, who also credited KOTC for giving him his start in MMA officiating.
KOTC was founded in 1998 and has produced fight cards in seventeen different countries, with TV exposure in 53 markets worldwide. Friday's card will be aired on Solar Sports on a delayed-telecast basis.
“There's no other place we are more excited to be in than the Philippines” gushed Trebilcock.
KOTC says they are big on grassroots development and have chosen the twenty fighters on display on Friday thanks to several elimination rounds. KOTC prides itself on signing young fighters and putting them into action as many as five times a year to accelerate their development.
MMA superstars like Rashad Evans, Thiago “Pitbull” Alves, Urijah “The California Kid” Faber, and Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez have all cut their teeth in KOTC before moving on to other promotions like Ultimate Fighting Championship.
KOTC Philippines Chairman Ray Young is hoping that Friday's fight night will be the start of a new wave of MMA popularity in the Philippines, which will help create a Pinoy MMA icon.
Said Young, “Soon we will have a KOTC World Champion coming out of the Philippines who will be recognized globally and will have the ability to compete throughout the world.”
Tickets for Friday's fights are available at very reasonable prices in SM Ticket outlets. VIP is P2500, Patron P100, Lower Box P550, Upper Box P350, Click on www.smtickets.com for more information.
Visit the KOTC Philippines FB page at www.facebook.com/KOTCph
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