UFC eyes Philippine event in 2015

MANILA, Philippines – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has included the Philippines as one of its potential destinations for 2015.

The world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization revealed its entire calendar for next year during the “Time is Now” media conference at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, November 18 (PH Time).

Even though the Philippines was not mentioned as a definite location at the aforementioned public event, a press release on UFC.com listed the country as its target market for an overseas show.

“Approximately half of the events will take place in the United States, with six scheduled for the Fight Capital of the World, Las Vegas. Other target markets for the company’s international shows include the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Japan, China, Korea, Philippines, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. If sanctioning is secured, the UFC also hopes to present its first event in the state of Victoria in Australia,” the statement read.

The two possible venues if the visit pushes through in 2015 are the Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena as both sporting sites have hosted MMA affairs.

The UFC was reportedly aiming to stage a fight card in the nation in late second quarter of this year, but head honcho Dana White publicly disclosed in May that the venture has been delayed.

However, White did not specifically elaborate on the reasons why the promotion has been unable to operate on Philippine shores, but other international markets such as Singapore and Macau have opened in the meantime.

The Zuffa-owned company has long held interest in the Philippines, with plans for a “The Ultimate Fighter” reality television series based in the country being talked about as early as 2011.

While there are persistent teasers that the UFC is heading its way to the fight capital of Southeast Asia, the renowned MMA league has brought its top studs to the archipelago on numerous occasions.

Carlos Condit recently held a meet-and-greet session and open workout at the Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City last November 8, while Urijah Faber spearheaded a string of seminars, community outreaches, and mall tours from March 24 to April 2.

Aside from Condit and Faber, other UFC superstars also had stopovers in the Philippines, with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Mark Muñoz, Brandon Vera, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Alexander Gustafsson and Cung Le.

Meanwhile, the country will roll out the red carpet once again as MMA legend Dan Severn is set for a three-hour colloquium at the Goat Locker Gym in Marikina City on December 6. – Rappler.com