UFC books another lightweight bout for ‘Fight Night Manila 2’

MANILA, Philippines – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has lined up another lightweight bout for its second live event in the Philippines on October 15 as Bosnian stalwart Damir Hadzovic will square off with Japanese fighter Yusuke Kasuya. 

The 3-round lightweight contest was originally booked for the UFC 203 pay-per-view card on Saturday, September 10 (Sunday, Manila time), but the match was moved to UFC Fight Night Manila 2 after Hadzovic had problems in securing his US visa. 

“I am very disappointed that I do not get to fight right now when I am so ready and have been working so hard! The change of date is due to visa problems, I am approved for the visa but unfortunately because of delay I cannot get my printed visa documents in time for my flight on Monday, therefore the UFC have moved the fight to another event,” Hadzovic said through his official Facebook page. 

Hadzovic (10-3) had his first Octagon appearance last April, bowing to Mairbek Taisumov via first-round knockout. 

The 30-year-old Bosnian is looking to bounce back at the expense of Kasuya, who’s also coming off a disappointing defeat at the hands of Nick Hein in September 2015.

Prior to his UFC stint, Kasuya (9-2-2) made sporadic appearances in several Asian mixed martial arts organizations, including Legend Fighting Championship, Shooto, and Pacific Xtreme Combat. 

Kasuya, 26, scored the biggest win so far in his 6-year prizefighting career, submitting Frank Camacho with a first-round rear-naked choke in March 2015. 

UFC Fight Night Manila 2, which takes place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, is headlined by a scheduled 5-round featherweight clash between BJ Penn and Ricardo Lamas. – Rappler.com