INQUIRER Sports

THE ATHLETIC RIVALRY BEtween La Salle and Ateneo shifts to another arena today when their prized Mixed Martial Arts fighters clash in the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) University Challenge at the A. Venue Events Hall in Makati.

La Salle’s Meeshal Al-Khuzeem, a 5-foot-10 grappler with dangerous leg kicks, takes on 5-7 Ralph Mendita of Ateneo in the welterweight division, the main attraction of the 15-bout tournament which starts at 7 p.m.

Other fights to watch out for are La Salle’s Jojo Tobang (Hybrid Yaw-Yan) versus PMI’s Albert de Guzman, pinweight; St. Paul’s Angelo Cristi (Maic’s Gym) versus La Salle’s Andrew Laxa (DefTac), lightweight; Samsom College’s Jean Marc Martin (Hybrid Yaw-Yan) versus UE’s Justin Daguilan (Sprawl), bantam; and Sumulong University’s Nino Banatao (Maic’s Gym) versus Sta. Rita College’s Ceazar Militante (CFS), middleweight.

“We believe we can discover the next URCC star from this tournament,” said URCC president Alvin Aguilar.
Aguilar said they plan to bring their fighters to the United States to have a crack at playing in the prestigious Ultimate Fight Championship.

Other pairings: La Salle’s JR Rulloda vs Lyceum’s Warren Franco (pin); San Beda’s Rain Balibalos vs UP’s Miguel Alo (bantam); La Salle’s Mark Limbaga vs Leonard Caliwa (fly); Informatics’ David Ancheta vs Jaguar Tang: Letran’s Boyet Santos vs Emil Macalinao.