THE Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has long been on the wish list of the country’s rabid fan base of the sport despite the regular staging of many international mixed-martial arts (MMA) organizations in the country.
Now, after a lengthy two years of negotiation, the UFC finally gave in to the Filipino fans’ request as the world’s largest MMA promotion will hold its first UFC Fight Night Manila on May 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Prior to their arrival in the Philippines, the UFC has staged fight cards in Macau, Singapore and Tokyo to varying success. Aiming to give back the support they are getting from their Filipino fans, Ken Berger, executive vice president and general manager of UFC Asia, said the Philippines stood out among other countries to host a UFC event this year.
“The Filipino crowd and fans are the most knowledgeable and passionate UFC fans here in Asia,” said Berger during Thursday’s introductory news conference. “We are very lucky to be part here in the Philippines because it is our key market for UFC.”
“We are thrilled to be kicking off our Asia series in Manila this year. The UFC has a loyal and passionate fan base in the Philippines and we’re looking forward to bringing the very best of MMA to Manila for the first time,” he added.
The UFC Fight Night Manila will make history as the first UFC event in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, and will be the first of the three in Asia this year.
SM Lifestyle Entertainment President Edgar Tejerero said the process in which the event was conceived was no easy task to complete—similar to the way the company sealed deals to hold the 2013 NBA Global Games Philippines and the International Premier Tennis League.
“Exactly two years ago, we met with UFC executives and asked them whether we could bring in a UFC event in Manila, and it’s not that easy to bring in a UFC event here in the Philippines that’s why it took us two years,” Tejerero said.
“It’s really part of our commitment…on [accomplishing] a short list of international events we want to bring here, not only for the Mall of Asia Arena, but for the Filipino fans [as well].”
Meanwhile, Berger remained mum on the fight card that will be on display for the Manila fans, and shared that coming up with this event took a long process because they wanted to polish the negotiation for the Filipinos enjoy the once in a lifetime experience.
“It’s not easy, it took two years in the process. We’re looking for a very good timing for the event. We guarantee that UFC 2015 in Manila will be very big,” Berger said. “First, we’ll be coming here on May 16…but nothing is to be announced just yet on future fight cards here in Manila.”
Details on the event, including the complete fight card and the ticket prices, have been put on hold until two months before the event.
(With King Al Mendoza)
Image credits: Kevin dela Cruz