MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fans were given a splendid treat by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as up-and-coming fighter Stephen Thompson and homegrown talent Mark Eddiva hosted an open workout on Thursday, February 25 at SM Mall of Asia’s music hall in Pasay City.
Team Lakay’s Eddiva kicked off the event with teammate and fellow UFC fighter Roldan Sangcha-an as his sparring partner and showcased his signature striking arsenal.
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark Eddiva throwing some kicks at the pads with teammate Roldan Sangcha-an. <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://t.co/pqxycIw853">pic.twitter.com/pqxycIw853</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702777450682458112">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark Eddiva works on the punch mitts with teammate Roldan Sangcha-an. <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://t.co/EEz4ZDwiPv">pic.twitter.com/EEz4ZDwiPv</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702778283901857792">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The 30-year-old Filipino is regarded as a well-rounded combatant with a Wushu Sanshou pedigree, who prefers to clobber a straight right-left hook combination and throw hard kicks at all levels but particularly to the legs.
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark Eddiva gives the crowd a glimpse of his Wushu takedowns. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/wJDTg2Cpkv">pic.twitter.com/wJDTg2Cpkv</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702779888520925184">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Eddiva makes his return inside the Octagon as he squares off with New Zealand’s Daniel Hooker on the undercard of UFC Fight Night 85 on March 20.
Meanwhile, Thompson received a wild ovation from the crowd when it was his turn to strut his wares on the stage.
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@WonderboyMMA</a>) receives a wild ovation from the crowd. <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y14EBewsVo">pic.twitter.com/Y14EBewsVo</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702781243549552640">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Thompson flaunted his full-contact kickboxing and Kenpo Karate background, with his father and head trainer Ray Thompson holding the punch mitts and kick pads.
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@wonderboymma</a>) works on the punch mitts with his dad Ray. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/QWJWdpES36">pic.twitter.com/QWJWdpES36</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702783274901372928">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@wonderboymma</a>) flaunts his signature kicks. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/E5IBhikmyD">pic.twitter.com/E5IBhikmyD</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702784044140875777">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@wonderboymma</a>) mixes in deadly kicks to his power punches. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/P7OTqU0xf9">pic.twitter.com/P7OTqU0xf9</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702785513678196736">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@wonderboymma</a>) adds more intensity to his strikes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@RapplerSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/rm8VsQGSs0">pic.twitter.com/rm8VsQGSs0</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702787872978407424">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The 33-year-old native of Simpsonville, South Carolina capped off the public training with a backflip that collected cheers from the local mixed martial arts fanatics in attendance.
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">To cap off the event, Stephen Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA">@wonderboymma</a>) does a backflip. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFConCignal?src=hash">#UFConCignal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCManila?src=hash">#UFCManila</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RapplerSports">@rapplersports</a> <a href="https://t.co/AiH8emgj0M">pic.twitter.com/AiH8emgj0M</a></p>— NISSI ICASIANO (@Nissi_Icasiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nissi_Icasiano/status/702789826404175872">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Thompson is scheduled to leave the Philippines on Friday, February 26 to continue his promotional tour in South Korea. – Rappler.com