MANILA, Philippines – Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), Southeast Asia's longest-running mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, has found a home for its future major events as it inked a partnership with Resorts World Manila.
URCC president Alvin Aguilar and Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly formalized the two companies' joint venture on Wednesday, February 17, at Maxims Hotel in Pasay City.
The founding MMA organization in the Philippines signed a lucrative deal that will see Resorts World host at least two fight cards in 2016 at Marriott Hotel's luxurious Grand Ballroom, starting with URCC's "Rebellion" event on April 23.
However, the exact terms and length of the agreement between URCC and Resorts World were not publicly disclosed.
"We are going to hold two events here at Resorts World. Two main events and possibly a third," Aguilar told Rappler. "We will be having a long-term thing. We're starting off this year. We will show them how we can produce and what kind of media mileage we can get them."
Resorts World had partnered with several MMA companies in the past, including Pacific Xtreme Combat and ONE Championship.
Aside from the two scheduled events at Marriott Hotel this year, URCC plans to stage 3 provincial shows and 5 "URCC Fight Night" affairs.
Aguilar also revealed that "URCC 27: Rebellion" will be broadcasted in 120 countries through its collaboration with KO Productions.
"Can you imagine that? The URCC is going to be aired in 120 countries. I mean that's unheard of," he said.
"URCC 27: Rebellion" will banner 4 championship bouts.
Reydon "Red" Romero is set to defend the URCC featherweight belt for the second time by facing South Korea's Do Gyeom Lee in the main event.
Meanwhile, CJ De Tomas aims to dethrone Japanese combatant Hideo Morikawa for the URCC flyweight championship.
Philippine-based American fighter Will Chope makes his URCC return versus Richie Redman for the available lightweight strap, while veteran Caloy Baduria battles Swiss standout Chris Hofmann (4-0) for the vacant light heavyweight title. – Rappler.com