TOP CONTENDERS FRANKIE EDGAR AND URIJAH FABER HEADLINE HISTORIC DEBUT UFC® EVENT IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Mar 13, 2015 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Singapore – The UFC® announced that its upcoming
live event debut in Manila on Saturday, May 16 at the Mall of Asia
Arena will be headlined by two former champions, as the
featherweight division’s No. 1 contender Frankie
Edgar comes head to head with Urijah
Faber, who makes a long awaited return to 145 lbs. in a
five-round battle sure to thrill the Filipino fans.
Riding a three-fight win streak, former UFC lightweight champion Edgar (17-4-1, fighting out of Toms River, New Jersey, USA) has proved his undeniable skills against Cub Swanson, B.J. Penn, and Charles Oliveira. With his sights now set on another title shot opportunity, Edgar will be looking for a memorable finish at this highly anticipated event. Making a return to the weight class of his greatest triumphs in the WEC, Faber (37-7-0, fighting out of Sacramento, California, USA) has won six of his last seven fights and has never lost a non-title fight. His experience in the cage has seen him go the five round championship distance five times against Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Mike Brown and twice against Renan Barao.
The co-main event brings a middleweight bust-up between No. 8
ranked Gregard Mousasi (35-5-2, fighting out of Leiden, The
Netherlands) and New York banger Costa Philippou (13-4-0, fighting
out of Long Island, New York, USA). Mousasi holds 20 wins by KO and
has defeated many seasoned fighters including Hector
Lombard, Ovince St.
Preux, Mark Munoz,
‘Babalu’ Sobral, and Ilir Latifi.
Mousasi will be looking to build on his last win over legend
Dan
Henderson as he meets former pro boxer Philippou, who has been
victorious in six of his last eight bouts. Plus up and coming Brit
Luke
Barnatt (8-2-0, fighting out of Cambridge, England) takes on
“The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz
(13-5, fighting out of Lake Forest, California, USA). Munoz comes
to Manila to live out the dream of being able to fight in front of
his fellow Filipinos for the first time in his long and
distinguished career.
In addition, the Manila card will also feature a diverse mix of UFC fighters from the Philippines and China bringing fans a truly international event.
· In a welterweight bout South Korea’s “The Ace” Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4-1, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) takes on hot prospect Neil Magny (14-4-0, fighting out of Denver, Colorado, USA) who is on a fierce five fight winning streak.
· The Philippines own Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) will have the Mall of Asia Arena behind him when he takes on skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Jon delos Reyes (7-4, fighting out of Tamuning, Guam) in a flyweight tilt.
· The Ultimate Fighter China winner Zhang Lipeng (9-8-1, fighting out Beijing, China) takes on ‘Rajan’ Kajan Johnson (19-12-1, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) in a lightweight clash
· Korea’s ‘Supernatural’ Tae Hyun Bang (17-8, fighting out of Seoul, Korea) takes on rising prospect Jon Tuck (8-2, fighting out of Hagatna, Guam) in a lightweight fight that highlights two emerging MMA markets in Asia.
· In another welterweight bout, Li Jingliang (9-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) takes on The Ultimate Fighter: Edgar vs. Penn veteran Roger Zapata (4-1, fighting out of New York, New York).
· Another Ultimate Fighter China steps back in the Octagon when Yao Zhikui (1-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets dynamic Nolan Ticman (4-2, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the debut of both fighters at 125 pounds.
· Former The Ultimate Fighter finalist Phillipe Nover (6-3-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, USA) returns to the UFC against “The Korean Bulldozer” Nam Yui Chul in a featherweight bout.
· Another Philippines national Mark Eddiva (6-1-0, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) squares off against Alex White (10-2-0, fighting out of Farmington, Missouri, USA) in a featherweight match-up.
· Undefeated Singaporean Royston Wee (4-0-0, fighting out of Singapore) meets The Ultimate Fighter China winner Ning Guangyou (5-2-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) in a bantamweight bout
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR VS. FABER go on sale Friday, Mar 13 at 10 a.m. Manila time and are priced at PHp13,250 (VIP), PHp10,600 (Patron), PHp7,950 (Lower Box A), PHp5,830 (Lower Box B), PHp3,710 (Upper Box), and PHp1,590 (General Admission) plus applicable service charges. Tickets are available in Mall of Asia Arena Box Office, SM Tickets outlets in all SM Cinema branches nationwide, select The SM Store branches, and online thru www.smtickets.com. For more information, call the Customer Care hotline at +63 (02) 470 2222.
For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About the UFC®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.
About Mall of Asia Arena
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Incorporated or SMLEI is the lifestyle and entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that offers the best in movies, events and leisure. Mall of Asia Arena, one of the brands tucked under SMLEI, also known as the architectural “eyecon,” is the venue for international sports and entertainment events. Patterned after popular stadiums abroad, the Mall of Asia Arena is the only center in the Philippines that has a floor dedicated to the Corporate Suites. Concert House to Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Monster Jam, J.Lo, Aerosmith, and the like, as well as sports center to the NBA, IPTL, and One FC, the Mall of Asia Arena is not only a local stadium for international acts but is also a tourist destination.
Riding a three-fight win streak, former UFC lightweight champion Edgar (17-4-1, fighting out of Toms River, New Jersey, USA) has proved his undeniable skills against Cub Swanson, B.J. Penn, and Charles Oliveira. With his sights now set on another title shot opportunity, Edgar will be looking for a memorable finish at this highly anticipated event. Making a return to the weight class of his greatest triumphs in the WEC, Faber (37-7-0, fighting out of Sacramento, California, USA) has won six of his last seven fights and has never lost a non-title fight. His experience in the cage has seen him go the five round championship distance five times against Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Mike Brown and twice against Renan Barao.
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In addition, the Manila card will also feature a diverse mix of UFC fighters from the Philippines and China bringing fans a truly international event.
Other confirmed bouts for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR vs. FABER
include:
· In a welterweight bout South Korea’s “The Ace” Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4-1, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea) takes on hot prospect Neil Magny (14-4-0, fighting out of Denver, Colorado, USA) who is on a fierce five fight winning streak.
· The Philippines own Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) will have the Mall of Asia Arena behind him when he takes on skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Jon delos Reyes (7-4, fighting out of Tamuning, Guam) in a flyweight tilt.
· The Ultimate Fighter China winner Zhang Lipeng (9-8-1, fighting out Beijing, China) takes on ‘Rajan’ Kajan Johnson (19-12-1, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) in a lightweight clash
· Korea’s ‘Supernatural’ Tae Hyun Bang (17-8, fighting out of Seoul, Korea) takes on rising prospect Jon Tuck (8-2, fighting out of Hagatna, Guam) in a lightweight fight that highlights two emerging MMA markets in Asia.
· In another welterweight bout, Li Jingliang (9-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) takes on The Ultimate Fighter: Edgar vs. Penn veteran Roger Zapata (4-1, fighting out of New York, New York).
· Another Ultimate Fighter China steps back in the Octagon when Yao Zhikui (1-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets dynamic Nolan Ticman (4-2, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the debut of both fighters at 125 pounds.
· Former The Ultimate Fighter finalist Phillipe Nover (6-3-1, fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, USA) returns to the UFC against “The Korean Bulldozer” Nam Yui Chul in a featherweight bout.
· Another Philippines national Mark Eddiva (6-1-0, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) squares off against Alex White (10-2-0, fighting out of Farmington, Missouri, USA) in a featherweight match-up.
· Undefeated Singaporean Royston Wee (4-0-0, fighting out of Singapore) meets The Ultimate Fighter China winner Ning Guangyou (5-2-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) in a bantamweight bout
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MANILA: EDGAR VS. FABER go on sale Friday, Mar 13 at 10 a.m. Manila time and are priced at PHp13,250 (VIP), PHp10,600 (Patron), PHp7,950 (Lower Box A), PHp5,830 (Lower Box B), PHp3,710 (Upper Box), and PHp1,590 (General Admission) plus applicable service charges. Tickets are available in Mall of Asia Arena Box Office, SM Tickets outlets in all SM Cinema branches nationwide, select The SM Store branches, and online thru www.smtickets.com. For more information, call the Customer Care hotline at +63 (02) 470 2222.
For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About the UFC®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.
About Mall of Asia Arena
SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Incorporated or SMLEI is the lifestyle and entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that offers the best in movies, events and leisure. Mall of Asia Arena, one of the brands tucked under SMLEI, also known as the architectural “eyecon,” is the venue for international sports and entertainment events. Patterned after popular stadiums abroad, the Mall of Asia Arena is the only center in the Philippines that has a floor dedicated to the Corporate Suites. Concert House to Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Monster Jam, J.Lo, Aerosmith, and the like, as well as sports center to the NBA, IPTL, and One FC, the Mall of Asia Arena is not only a local stadium for international acts but is also a tourist destination.
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