July 18 and 19 is a fight-filled, action packed weekend. Last July 18, the premier Mixed Martial Art event in the Philippines, staged its 14th installment, dubbed, URCC IVAggression. This was held at the A. Venue Events center at Makati Avenue, Makati City. There’s a total of 10 matches with 2 titles on the line, with 2 main events and one superfight.
Hybrid Yawyan’s Vicente Pajaro successfully defended his URCC Heavyweight title against Elorda MMA’s Panchito Estrada, winning via Armbar. In the co-main event, Caloy Baduria pounded Cuban Remand Lazaro into submission. Unarguably, the best fight of the evening is the main event, the Superfight between the reigning and undefeated URCC Welterweight Champion, Eduard “The Landslide” Folayang against Guam’s AJ Aguon. The Pinoy MMA hero maintained his winning streak as he eked out a Unanimous decision win over the invader from Guam.
The following are the results of URCC XIV Aggression:
Match Winner Loser Result
1 Jet Lumawag Joel Taon Ref Stoppage
2. Charles De Tomas Franz Altarejos Ref Stoppage
3. Erwin Focad Lando Espinosa Ref Stoppage
4. Badong Domasian Richie Redman Tap out
5. Eric Kelly Robert Buminaand Submission
6. Reggie Amarante Raymond Carlos Ref Stoppage
7. Mike Natividad Ruben Sumido Tap out
8. Vicente Pajaro Panchito Estrada Submission
9. Caloy Baduria Remand Lazaro Submission
10. Eduard Folayang AJ Aguon Unanimous Decision
Beck and I were extremely excited over this event as we personally know 4 competitors, Charles De Tomas, a former member of the training pool for the Philippine Muay Team, Eric Kelly, my former fellow Yaw-Yan Ardigma gymmate, Ruben Sumido, former member of the RP Muay Thai team and lone gold medalist from the Philippines in the 2007 Asian Indoor Games and of course, the URCC Welterweight Champion, Eduard Folayang.
In the previous URCC, Beck and I were just shrieking fans supporting the fast rising MMA star, Eduard Folayang. But it is indeed a very, very small world and last summer, we didn’t know that we have a very, close common friend, Pastor/Kuya Eric Ortega and we were introduced formally. Now, Eduard would send us text messages from time to time. In this URCC, Beck and I are now one of the friends of a very down to Earth, unassuming, and most importantly, God-fearing MMA athlete. Congrats, Eduard for retaining your title!
Note: My persistent problem in photography is taking action pictures inside with dim lights. The photos are taken are very, very awful, to say the least and none of them are worth of being posted here, except for those pictures with Eduard Folayang, because…these are not action photos. He he he
The ring girls sashayed on the ramp on their way to the ring.
The URCC Heavyweight Champion, Vicente Pajaro retaining his crown.
AJ Aguon on his way to the ring
Will somebody give me one of these t-shirts?
In the last few minutes of the 2nd round, Eduard Folayang suffered a cut on his eye brow due to an accidental head butt. Despite the cut and being bloodied, The Landslide still fought bravely to secure a unanimous decision victory.
A very buffed Eduard Folayang. Damn, I wish I have those pectorals and abs.
Beck posing with Eduard Folayang and the rest of the Lakay Wushu Team
The two pictures below are for our common friend, Pastor/Kuya Eric Ortega. The four of us, Me, Beck, Eduard and Jay all look up to Kuya Eric and regard him as a very close Christian brother. Pastor Eric is one of our wedding Godfather, while Jay San Pedro, Eduard’s manager will be married soon and Pastor Eric will solmenize the ceremony.
Eduard and his manager, Jay San Pedro
July 23, 2009 at 3:54 pm |
Cool! I wish Eduard to become even better in the days to come.
July 24, 2009 at 3:40 pm |
I’m sure he will Ray. His manager, Jay San Pedro has lots of plans for him. Jay trained with Freddie Roach and has learned a lot about training a fighter, specially for MMA. I have learned a lot from Jay too, we can all be sure that Eduard is in good hands and his potential will truly be maximized.
July 24, 2009 at 5:48 am |
galing un pictures ni Folayang. Iba talaga ang body build ng mga Baguio boys. Mukhang solid. Siksik at natural. no chemicals added. hehehe.
July 24, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
Hello Sir Vic,
Not only that. Eduard doesn’t do any weight resistance training. Seeing how ripped he is, it is a wonder how he achieved it. Thanks po, for visiting my blog.
July 31, 2009 at 10:35 pm
That’s Igorot genetics! If you remember two of my wards (kids), they are of Igorot stock…they’re doing push ups and their biceps, pecs, are already bulging….unfortunately I was not able to fully inherit the genetics from my mother side. I envy my cousins….
August 3, 2009 at 3:09 pm |
that’s the body of a FULL BLOODED IGOROT.
August 4, 2009 at 6:58 pm |
Very true
August 4, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
“We are not old! We are not old! We are not old! We are still young!”
August 4, 2009 at 7:25 pm |
Sanshou is strongly supported by UC. That’s why they have the best Sanshou team in the country. Strong support from the university really means a lot to the athlete.
I wish the colleges and universities here in La Union would truly give support to growing martial arts like Muay Thai and Arnis, etc…
Here in Ilocandia, the officials of the universities would say, “can your sport make you money in the future…etc?”. That’s why our province is so kuripot in supporting athletes. They only support athletes that could generate financial income for them in the future.
I envy the Ilocos Norte TKD team. They have great support from the province in their Taekwondo. They have full and complete Adidas gears and they ask veteran Taekwondo jiins from Hawaii to conduct seminars. But I’ve never heard Ilocos Norte dominate TKD in the nationals. I don’t know. Someone enlighten me if I got this part wrong.
August 6, 2009 at 9:57 am |
That’s the sad state of Philippine sport. TKD is very easy to market compared to Muay Thai. But to their credit, it took them time and a lot of hard work to be where their sport is now. Muay Thai can be still be considered in its infancy here in the country. Perhaps in time, muay thai will also enjoy the same support and popularity TKD is currently enjoying.
For TKD, I think its one of the few sports that NCR dominate.
August 1, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
Then I envy your genes! I could hardly believe Eduard when he told me that he doesn’t do any weight training exercises, just push ups and pulls ups and other body weight exercises.
August 3, 2009 at 7:48 pm |
My genes are not similar to Eduard’s
But anyways my doctor told me not to do any strenuous exercises, running, jump rope, etc. – I have to wait 4 months to strengthen the injured part of my shinbone, since the crack is expanding downwards….
August 4, 2009 at 7:00 pm |
Talking about injuries, I think my old knee injury is rearing its ugly head again. It resurfaced when I was trying to set a personal record in the 3k run, then I feel a sharp pain on my knees. Hope its not serious.