Geisler vs Matos to be one round openweight bout, says URCC official

MANILA, Philippines – Film actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos will finally have the opportunity to settle their differences inside a mixed martial arts (MMA) cage on June 25 after the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) made it official on Thursday, June 9. 

URCC referee Franco Rulloda confided to Rappler that the two men will square off against each other under pro-am MMA rules, which prohibit elbow strikes and knees to the head.

According to Rulloda, the bout will most likely have one 5-minute round, with both participants not being required to make weight for a particular division. 

Geisler and Matos will wear amateur MMA gloves, which has more padding and weighs 6 ounces for increased protection. 

Since it will be contested under pro-am MMA rules, competitors are not obliged to wear headgears and shin pads. 

“Both men are not professionally-trained athletes. We, in the URCC, have to keenly regulate this match because it involves two actors who don’t have the experience in fighting professionally. Even if it’s a fight, we need to ensure the safety of the two,” Rulloda said.

However, URCC is looking at the option of making it a two-round confrontation, with each period lasting for 3 minutes.

“The rules are still up for finalization. It will be announced in the coming days,” Rulloda stressed.

(READ: PH MMA community looks forward to Baron Geisler vs Kiko Matos bout)

The rift between Geisler and Matos stemmed from an altercation at a local bar in Quezon City this past May. 

URCC founder Alvin Aguilar made a formal invitation to both men on May 30 during the press conference of the organization’s upcoming event, which takes place at Valkyrie in Taguig City.

“In the URCC, we make sure that all street fights get settled inside the URCC cage. So guys we are offering you both a chance to finally settle your score inside the URCC cage and not in the streets,” Aguilar stated. 

Geisler and Matos accepted the promotion’s offer to resolve their beef inside the URCC cage as a co-featured attraction on its “Fight Night” card. 

Geisler is currently in training with his brother Donnie, who was a member of Philippine Taekwondo team that represented the country in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games. 

Meanwhile, Matos opted to have his training camp at Athletic Lab in Tanauan City, Batangas. – Rappler.com