Mousasi vs Philippou, Lim vs Magny added to UFC Fight Night Manila.

Oh yes, two more fights have been added to the much anticipated, first-ever UFC event in the Philippines!

Announced earlier today, Gegard Mousasi and Costas Philippou will meet in a middleweight matchup as the co-main event while in the welterweight division, Neil Magny will face-off against Hyun Gyu Lim.

Co-main event!

Mousasi, currently ranked at #7, is fresh off from a victory last January, where he punched out Dan Henderson in just 70 seconds. Philippou (ranked #12), on the other hand, is coming off a KO of Lorenz Larkin that ended his two-fight losing skid.

Lim vs Magny.

Neil Magny, who holds the longest current winning streak in the welterweight division, is aiming for his seventh consecutive victory. His current run includes wins over Tim Means, William Macario and, most recently, Kiichi Kunimoto, whom Magny submitted last February 14.

South Korean star Lim has a 3-1 Octagon record in his two years with the UFC, with all three of those wins coming by way of knockout. His most recent victory was last September, where he elbowed the lights out of Takenori Sato last September in just 78 seconds.

Stay tuned for more UFC Fight Night Manila updates! :)

Urijah Faber vs Frankie Edgar to headline UFC Fight Night Manila!

It's gonna be another thrilla in Manila as the UFC's first visit to the Philippines will feature a main event fight between two mixed martial arts superstars and former champions.

Here we go!

Former UFC world lightweight champion Frankie Edgar takes on former WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber in a five-round featherweight main event which will air live on FOX Sports 1 from the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. The event is set for May 16.

Frankie Edgar, who was the king of the lightweight division from 2010 to 2012, is now seeking gold at featherweight, where he has won three straight over Charles Oliveira, BJ Penn and Cub Swanson after a razor-thin decision loss to current champion Jose Aldo in February of 2013.

On the other hand, Faber, also known as the 'California Kid', ruled the featherweights in the WEC from 2006 to 2008. He went on to become an elite bantamweight since coming to the UFC in 2011. Winner of six of his last seven, Faber has never lost a non-title fight, an impressive record that could be tainted as he faces Edgar in the Philippines.

Five more match-ups have also been announced for the main card.
In the lightweight division, Tae Hyun Bang will be up against Jon Tuck while Zhang Lipeng takes on Kajan Johnson. At 125 pounds, Yao Zhikui squares off against Nolan Ticman and the Philippines' own Roldan Sangcha-an meets Jon Delos Reyes. In the welterweight division, Li Jingliang battles Roger Zapata.

Tickets will go on sale in March, launched in conjunction with SM Tickets at www.smtickets.com.
Stay tuned for more info and updates! :)

The Wait is Over | UFC Fight Night in Manila!

Finally. Finally. Finally! :)
Having been a fan of mixed martial arts for years now, it has long been my dream to watch UFC fighters battle it out in Philippine soil. My wish has finally been granted as today, the UFC announced its much-awaited, first-ever Fight Night event in Manila.

UFC Fight Night Manila!

Scheduled on the evening of May 16, UFC Fight Night Manila will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Its international broadcast will be through UFC Fight Pass, and will air on the morning of May 15 in North America,

Ken Berger, Executive Vice President and General Manager of UFC Asia said, “We are thrilled to be kicking off our Asia event calendar 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 mixed martial arts to Manila for the first time. We have found a great event partner in SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. and are excited that the SM Mall of Asia Arena will be home to a historic UFC event that fans will remember for years to come.” 

Berger also noted that this will be the first and only South East Asian card for the year.

No fights have been officially announced as of this writing, but it's most likely that homegrown talents Mark Eddiva and Roldan Sangcha-an will be in the line-up. Fighters will Filipino roots such as Mark Munoz, Chris Cariaso, and John Dodson could also be included in the fight card, as well as notable Asian fighters such as Kang Kyung Ho and Hyun Gyu Lim.

Tickets will go on sale in March, launched in conjunction with SM Tickets.