Expect more Filipinos excelling in MMA, says UFC vets Faber, Edgar

Photo by MARK GIONGCO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — There will be four Filipino fighters seeing action in the first-ever UFC Fight Night in Manila on May 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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Former champions Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber believe Filipinos have a bright future ahead of them in MMA.

“I think it’s just makes sense, it’s not surprising,” said former UFC lightweight champion Edgar. “Obviously, it’s a fight culture. Manny Pacquiao maybe one of the best boxers ever. So for Filipinos to succeed in MMA, it’s not surprising and now that the UFC is here, I think you’ll see lot more of them in MMA.”

UFC veteran Mark Muñoz headlines the list of Filipinos, who will be fighting before a hometown crowd. Muñoz in fact, will be staging his first and farewell fight here in what is expected to be an emotional night for the Filipino Wrecking Machine, who has had an up-and-down MMA career.

The 37-year-old Muñoz will be fighting English fighter Luke Barnatt in a fight announced just recently during a press conference.

READ: Fitting end: Mark Muñoz’s first fight in Manila will be his last

Muñoz joined Mark Eddiva, Fil-American Phillipe Nover and Roldan Sangcha-an in the card headlined by Edgar and Faber.

READ: Two Filipinos added to first UFC event in Manila

“The coolest thing about this sport is any size, any race, any one individual person can accomplish big things so all it takes is the right heart, the right mentality and the right work ethic to have a lot of success,” said Faber.

“I know there’s millions of Filipinos out there that have the heart, that have the work ethic and they have the tenacity and I expect this to ignite the whole future of champions and great contenders in the Philippines,” Faber added.