INQUIRER Sports

With the joyful triumphs came several gripping defeats at the close of the Ultimate Reality Combat Championship (URCC) Cebu 4: Proving Grounds Saturday night at the Cebu International Convention Center(CICC) in Mandaue City.

Two of Cebu's fighters were minted with the newly-created URCC Visayas belts. However, Cebuano top prospect Engi “The Destroyer” Piloto of the Yaw Yan Ardigma failed to live up to his moniker and instead found himself in the path of destruction of the undefeated Mark Ediva.

Ediva, a former Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) wushu gold medalist and a member of the multi-titled Lakay Wushu squad, joined the ranks of champions in their group as he claimed the URCC Visayas featherweight title after winning via submission at the 3:44 mark of the first round.

Ediva started off strong as he rushed Piloto and took him down to the mat. He stayed on top of the action and managed a sidemount at the edge of the ring. After the two combatants were broken up and were asked to relocate to the center of the ring by the referee, the end suddenly happened for Piloto.

Ediva used his strength and guile to mount and deliver several crushing punches to the face of the Cebuano, which left him with a huge and bloody welt. Piloto tried to fend off the vicious attacks of Ediva by flipping over.

But Ediva put on the finishing touches as he locked in a rear naked choke which forced Piloto to tap out, signaling the end of the match and the victory for the warrior from the north.

“Nag-aalanganin pa ako sa simula pero nung nagsalpukan na kami, naramdaman ko na siya. Lumapit siya kasi kaya nagawa ko yung full mount. Tapos hindi ganun ka explosive yung counter niya, kaya nalagay ko yung rear naked choke,” said Ediva after the match.

The other main event saw Canadian Sabah “The Persian Warrior” Fadai emerge victorious as he manhandled the previously undefeated Andrew Bernibe en route to a unanimous decision victory.

The Revolution Fight Team member was simply unstoppable all fight long as he used his deadly kicks to administer bruising punishment to his opponent and score a ton of points for the win.

CEBUANO WINNERS

In other title bouts, Cebu's Demetrio Dela Torre proved that he is indeed “The Standard” after he stopped Philip Delarmino of Iloilo in just 46 seconds for the URCC Visayas pinweight title.

Dela Torre wasted no time in getting on the back of Delarmino to put on a rear naked choke, which the latter tried to fight off until he passed out.

The flyweight title was also won by Cebu's Maxilito Yung as he left Alvin Amistoso a bloody mess with a TKO victory at the 2:36 mark of the first round.

Leo “The Sandman” Gaerlan however, was denied the bantamweight title after he lost to reigning RP Muay Thai champion Leonard Delarmino via TKO at the 6:00 minute mark of the first round.

In other results, Jerlyn Llera won via TKO over Jenifer Biocales at the 4:21 mark of the first round, while Agustin Delarmino won via submission with a guillotine choke over Jonamar Makaraya. Jimmy Yabo knocked out Jimmy Baldilovar while Tom Woodfin put on a courageous show as he outlasted Richie Redman with a rear naked choke at the 9:32 mark of the first round.