With over a decade of pro boxing experience under his belt, Roy Doliguez has made a name for himself in the boxing world with numerous wins and championships. Doliguez’s boxing record boasts 19 wins with 11 of them coming via KO, making it rather prevalent that “The Dominator” packs some serious power in his fists. Lucky for us fight fans, he has taken that punching power into MMA, knocking people out left and right in the underground scene and winning his first URCC bout via submission due to strikes.

With only one fight in the URCC, some may be led to believe that Doliguez is someone new to the fight game, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Doliguez has been taking punches and dishing them out for years with great success and he plans to bring that experience together with his punching power into the ring come April 28 at URCC 21: Warpath. Not content on resting on his laurels, this Elorde MMA fighter has steadily evolved into a more well-rounded mixed martial artist, adding grappling and eight-limb striking to his repertoire. In this candid interview, we’ll learn more about this devastating striker and his thoughts on his upcoming fight with Alvin Ramirez.

Check out what he has to say right after the jump.

URCC: So Roy, you’ve become a very successful boxer for many years, when and why did you make the transition into MMA?

Roy Doliguez (RD): I began training and fighting in MMA last 2002, I was a URCC qualifier winner and I began fighting in the underground scene. Since I had already stopped boxing professionally, I felt like the time was right for me to focus on my MMA career.

URCC: I’m pretty sure you made the right decision. Was the transition from boxing to MMA difficult for you?

RD: The transition wasn’t hard for me and I actually enjoy MMA more than boxing. I would probably have a harder time transitioning back to boxing; I might end up taking my opponents down because I got used to it in training.

URCC: That would be a sight to see! Do you think your years of boxing professionally will give you an advantage in MMA?

RD: I think I have a huge advantage in MMA because of my powerful punches and my boxing skills, especially when it comes to ground-and-pound!

URCC:  Let’s talk about your upcoming fight. Going into this bout, some critics believe that your attacks are limited to only boxing, what do you have to say in response to this? 

RD: That’s just what they believe because they know me as a boxer, but what they don’t know is that I’m also a grappler and Muay Thai practitioner.

URCC: So what have you been working on in training lately to prepare you for this fight? 

RD: I’ve been focusing my training on jiu-jitsu, working hard on techniques one-on-one with my trainers.

URCC: What separates you from other fighters and what’s your greatest strength? 

RD: My greatest strength would be my durability. Even when I’m tired I keep pushing and I never give up.

URCC: What are your thoughts on your next opponent Alvin Ramirez as URCC 21: Warpath is fast approaching?

RD: I know that he’ll want to punch and kick me and try to submit me on the ground, but I won’t let that happen.

URCC: How about you, what’s your game plan going into this fight? 

RD: I plan to face him and go toe-to-toe with a relentless exchange of powerful punches and kicks.

URCC: Sound like an all out war. How do you envision yourself winning this fight? 

RD: 100% knock out. I will give everything I’ve got and use every ounce of my knowledge and strength to win this fight.

URCC: I’m sure us fans are in for a great fight. Thank you for your time and best of luck!

For any feedback, comments, or suggestion, hit me up at www.facebook.com/dojodrifter or email me at gab_eap@yahoo.com and DO NOT FORGET to ALWAYS check up on http://urccmma.com for news regarding Filipino MMA!!!

They call him “The Saint” because he’ll tell you that he’s gonna kick you on the head before his shin lands at the side of your skull. This gives you ample time to defend, I guess. Beefit Python’s and Davaos’s son,  Angelito “The Saint” Manguray is one of the most famous fighters in the URCC, and also (though you won’t notice it when he fights) the oldest. Though his age is pushing 50’s door down, he has been able to knock out people half his age. His list of victims in the URCC were Jerry Legaspi, the infamous Razzi Jabarri, and Salvador Domasian, all of whom are strikers. A bout in Martial Combat 7 saw him beating Shane Wiggand. All his wins are by TKO.

 Jeremy Horn’s record of 89 wins and 21 losses might be broken after all. Not shying from a fight, Will “The Kill” Chope is a product of Phuket Top Team and Team Buffet who leads a nomadic lifestyle although he is now based in Baguio. At only 21 years of age, he can put any decent mma fighter’s record to shame with the number of fights he’s already fought in. With 9 wins and 5 losses, his prolific record tells you that he will not hesitate to fight when given the chance. Of those 9 victories, 3 of those victims are URCC’s Jerson Estoro, Miguel Alo and Reydon Romero. In all his wins, only one went the distance with the rest either being a TKO/KO or a Submission.

 Unpredictable. That is how I’ll describe Manguray’s Karate based attacks. Much like Lyoto Machida’s style, he loves to dart with a kick or punch just when his opponent isn’t expecting it then darts out again to avoid the counterpunch. If Chope doesn’t get the timing of Manguray’s strikes early, he’s gonna have a long night. He has devastating ground and pound as he has shown in his fights against Legazpi, Jabarri and Wiggand but a glaring weakness he’ll have is his ground game.

 Although he has been training wrestling and BJJ a lot, it would still be a question if he’s comfortable fighting off his back when the situation calls for it. His cardio has been exceptional in his past fights except in his loss to Honorio Banario where he got submitted. Whenever he got taken down, you could see that the effort to get back up to his feet slowly waned and eventually he gave up his back. If this fight goes to the ground, that’s where we’ll see if “The Saint’s” gas tank has improved or not. Fighting from the guard is not one of Manguray’s strengths,  and if the fight goes there, Chope will not stop throwing strikes or submission attempts.

It’s no secret that Will “The Kill” Chope’s advantage over almost everyone he fights is his height and reach. His striking isn’t as polished as let’s say, Jerson Estoro, but he’s shown us in his last 3 outings that it doesn’t matter. The kid can fight and he definitely has heart. I don’t see him giving up if he’s put in a difficult position. With his height and reach, I really think that if Chope is able to bring the fight to the ground, he has a big chance of ending the fight right there.

Chope is more savvy on the ground be it with transitions or with submissions. This was very evident in his match with Reydon Romero in the URCC Baguio 4 Battleground. He transitioned from being sidemounted to getting the guy’s back, sweeping from the guard, attacking with a heel hook to taking the back mount. One of the biggest things he needs to change for this fight is defending leg kicks with hands. Manguray has the tendency to throw leg kicks followed up with punches and if Chope’s bad habit continues, he might get caught with a heavy one. Another thing is having more control in the mount. It’s dangerous to take the full mount and then get reversed by a dangerous puncher on top of you.

I’m not gonna pick a winner for this one but I’ll say this, Manguray will not win with a submission and Chope will not win the fight by turning off Manguray’s lights.

Fight Calibration:

Angelito Manguray

• Beefit Python’s Gym
• 4 wins 1 loss
• 100% of wins by TKO/KO
• 100% of losses by Submission
• Last fight 4/2/2012

Will Chope

• Phuket Top Team/Team Buffet
• 9 wins 5 losses
• 33% of wins by TKO/KO
• 56% of wins by submissions
• 11% of wins by Decision
• 60% of losses by TKO/KO
• 40% of losses by Submissions

Check out these videos of Angelito “The Saint” Manguray and Will “The Kill” Chope on URCCMMAtv at Youtube.

Angelito Manguray’s fight in Martial Combat Singapore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDzUr19rYOc

Will Chope’s fight in URCC Baguio 4 Battleground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulxpaVKLXok&list=PLA9D2E5FE9BE7CD23&index=5&feature=plcp

Who would you pick? Do you agree or disagree with anything I wrote? For anything and everything, hit me up on http://facebook.com/alfredgealogo and follow me on twitter @alfred_gealogo and DO NOT FORGET to ALWAYS check up on http://urccmma.com for news regarding Filipino MMA!!!

Hailing from the famed Yaw-Yan Buhawi gym, “The Phenom” is armed with very dynamic striking techniques and great submissions, the latter being impressively displayed in his URCC 18 fight against Janito Bayot where he won via arm bar.  Ramirez is a top contender in the pinweight division and is one of the most consistent finishers in the game, with all of his four wins ending by either submission or (T)KO. At the young age of 22, Ramirez is already a savvy veteran who has years of experience under his belt, including a run at the title.

Charismatic and fun-loving outside the ring, Ramirez is all business once he wears those gloves and that opening bell rings. Despite his ability to beat down opponents and put them to sleep, Ramirez remains grounded with a clear understanding of the fight game. The young Yaw-yan ace sat down with us to discuss his thoughts on his upcoming fight with Roy Doliguez. Catch what “The Phenom” had to say after the jump.

URCC: So Alvin, you train under Sir Rey Yap at Yaw-Yan Buhawi. For you, what is the best part about training there and how has it helped you grow as a fighter?

Alvin Ramirez (AR): I remember before that I didn’t know much and my movements were sloppy. I just kept throwing strikes and my punches and kicks didn’t have much power in them. I was very happy once I began to improve and apply what Sir Rey taught me. I didn’t simply learn how to fight at Yaw-yan Buhawi; Sir Rey and my senior teammates helped guide me into becoming a good person. For me that’s what’s most important: becoming a good person.

URCC: Sounds like Sir Rey and Yaw-yan have played a big part in your growth and success. Your last win came via KO with a head kick in the first round. Did that win mean a lot to you especially since you did so in true Yaw-yan fashion?

AR: I consider myself very fortunate in that fight because I took it on short notice; I only trained for three days. That win was extra special because it was my first time to put someone to sleep using my left leg and in the first round no less. And of course, Yaw-yan style!

URCC: Three days to prepare isn’t much yet you still walked away with the win. Speaking of preparation, what frame of mind do you have going into your next bout against Roy Doliguez?

AR: From the very beginning I never underestimate my opponent’s skill. That’s what puts me in a certain frame of mind for the fight.  You have to think that you’re opponent is skilled so that you’ll do better when the two of you start fighting. If I can take the power of his punches, I’ll likely go toe-to-toe with him with the striking. Even if he fights me on the ground, I have a bit of jiu-jitsu ready and waiting for him.


 

URCC: Sounds like you’re prepared for anything. Can you tell us what you’re general game plan is for this fight and what’s in store for your opponent?

AR: Boxing consists of only punches. In MMA, you suddenly have to deal with kicks to your body, thighs, and face. For Roy, I will let him know the difference between pro boxing and MMA.

URCC: You’re recognized as one of the most exciting fighters in the division. What do you consider as your greatest strengths going into this fight?

AR: My greatest strengths would be my big heart and how I mix up different styles of fighting and bringing it inside the ring.

URCC: How about your opponent, what would you say are his greatest strengths? What are his weaknesses?

AR: His punches are very strong and he has good form with his attacks. He’s a strong striker but I think his striking is limited. We will find out what his weaknesses are during the fight; you never want to underestimate someone because he’s also training hard.

URCC: Last question, you’re very dangerous in both striking and submissions and you always go for the finish. Which would be more satisfying for you: to win via submission or (T)KO?

AR: Being a YAWYAN practitioner, I’m happiest when I put my opponents to sleep via KO.

URCC: Either way, I’m sure us fans will be in for some terrific MMA action. Thank you for your time!

For updates please make sure to check up at http://www.urccmma.com BAKBAKAN NA!

While Alcer wants to move up the ranks, Andrew is gunning for a spectacular win that could earn him a title shot. That, and a chance at good old revenge.

One of the most well-rounded fighters in the URCC roster, Maic’s Gym/Benibe MMA’s Andrew Benibe’s most enviable trait is his ability to adapt to his opponent’s style to find a way to win. His recent three-fight win streak were won against very talented opponents. In the first few minutes of the round, you won’t even be sure if Benibe would win. It’s a war and both fighters are trading leather, trading takedowns, sweeps and submission attempts. Then just when you think Benibe might be on the losing end of a very close fight, he pulls off something out of his sleeves and flips the script, throws a combo and someone’s knocked out, or gets a transition and ends up with the opponent tapping out. His resiliency and technical prowess are his greatest weapons aside from his unquestionable heart, and his humility ensures that he trains his ass off in the gym.

Alcer Lozada of Butuan Extreme MMA only has two fights in the URCC. First is a fight that he won in a short , crazy back and forth fight via rear naked choke, and secondly, a fight that saw him get knocked out by a sidekick of death thrown by Team Lakay’s Honorio Banario. Of course, there is his infamous win over Mike Banayad (one of my first favourite URCC fighters), a decision win in a rival promotion that has fans giving him the win since he busted up Mike’s face, or shouting bloody murder saying that Banayad won the fight and all Lozada did was to act cocky and run away from his opponent ala Mayweather. What I saw in Lozada is that he can kick and he will utilize the kick each and every time he gets. He will use his hands sparingly and while his punches aren’t bad (he knocked down Mike Banayad and busted him up, remember?), his main striking weapon will be his kicks. Another is his good control from the front headlock where he battered Jobert Minguito with knees. If Benibe clinches with him, Benibe might be in for a rude surprise. Now if ever the fight goes to the ground, that’s where I think Lozada will have an advantage. Lozada’s takedown defense looks good and he is a blue belt under Stephen Kamphius of KMA who has helped other MMA fighters with their ground skills. So if the fight turns into a grappling match, it could well be because he wanted it to be one.

To win this fight, Andrew Benibe should be on his toes and his timing sharp. Battling a young fighter with something to prove is always a dangerous fight. I think he has to pressure Lozada in this one and turn it into a brawl. If he just stands in front of Lozada, he will be eating alot of leg kicks for sure. What he wants is to pressure Lozada from the stand-up, just hurting him from striking range but never over-committing to clinch with him on the ropes. That would be playing to Lozada’s game. Andrew needs to focus and forget the thought of avenging Mike’s loss. He needs all his wits about him. I wouldn’t have him takedown Lozada off the bat. He’d be doing well fighting from his feet. It would be a wise decision preparing for submission defense this time out. Although Benibe is no beginner in the grappling arts, playing a game with someone who plays the same game more than you isn’t always a wise choice. This night, Andrew Benibe’s key to victory is his pressure, counter-punching and takedown defense. If these three things come out that night, it will be a TKO win for Mr. Benibe.

I commend Alcer Lozada for taking this fight. Right after a devastating loss, he will go up against one the URCC’s most dangerous veterans and one who has a grudge against him. On the 28^th, Alcer needs to be unpredictable. Use your kicks to set-up your punches. Leave the funny antics at home. It will be hard to catch Benibe with a lucky punch and 3 times out of 3 it has been recently proven that brawling with him isn’t a good idea. This is Alcer’s moment to showcase his Jiu-Jitsu. Although I’m sure he’s confident with his hands and feet, at this point in their careers, Andrew Benibe has a heavier hand. So he must confuse Benibe enough with his strikes to secure a takedown and keep Benibe there.  Submit him or maul him with some ground-and-pound, it doesn’t matter as long as you keep him on the ground. Tire him out and play your ground game. Jessie Rafols unravelled that blueprint and I suspect that it might still get Alcer Lozada a win and wipe the bitter taste of his most recent loss off his mouth.

Will Andrew Benibe get that spectacular win and finally put himself in a title fight or will Alcer Lozada put his name on the URCC map? All i can say is that I’m going to have a great time finding out.

Fight Calibration:

Andrew Benibe

• 4 wins 2 losses
• 50% of wins by TKO/KO
• 50% of wins by Submissions
• 50% of losses by TKO/KO
• 50% of losses by Submissions
• Three-fight winning streak
• Last fight was in November 2011

Alcer Lozada

• 1 win 1 loss
• 100% of wins by Submissions
• 100% of losses by TKO/KO
• Coming of a KO loss
• Last fight was in August 2011

Video of Alcer Lozada in the URCC Davao Digmaan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBYTZaHFc0o

Who would you pick? Do you agree or disagree with anything I wrote? For anything and everything, hit me up on http://facebook.com/alfredgealogo and follow me on twitter @alfred_gealogo and DO NOT FORGET to ALWAYS check up on http://urccmma.com for news regarding Filipino MMA!!!

Ramirez made his debut in the 2009 Rogue Magazine Black Tie Brawl. This exciting fighter from Coach Rey Yap’s Yaw Yan Buhawi MMA Team has never looked back. A young man with boyish looks, Ramirez has something that most fighters would envy; the heart of a true MMA fighter. Whenever a URCC event has Ramirez in its fight card you will get to see the large fan base he has built since 2009. From the very moment his name is called to step into the ring, his fans make it a point we hear that he is the fighter to watch out for. His ring experience usually outweighs most of the URCC veterans he has fought. He exudes a very calm and collected demeanor, always smiling with that playful style of fighting and swagger then out of nowhere he just goes in for the kill. May it be a knee, flying arm lock,  head kick, or a spinning back fist, he’s going to do it to knock you out or make you tap. Anyone going against this boyish looking URCC fighter is going to get a hands full.

During the 2011 URCC Tribal Gear Dutdutan Tattoo Festival, Roy “Dominator” Doliguez won his fight and caught the eyes of the fans and yours truly. His high quality striking and fighting style has earned him this matchup with Ramirez.  Doliquez was a three time PBF Super Flyweight Champion, and a former WBO Asia Pacific Junior Flyweight  top challenger in boxing. The Dominator holds a record of nineteen wins, seventeen losses in boxing wherein eleven of those wins were won by knockout. Most of his fights in MMA have been in underground events wherein it is said that he has won all his fights by knockout.

As these two strikers fight for pride and glory on the 28th of April, fans will be treated to a fight that promises non stop action and fireworks from start to end.

 Alvin “The Phenom” Ramirez URCC XVI fight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpC-gme0QnU

URCC Founder Alvin Aguilar, founder of one of Asia’s longest running MMA promotions filed three cases with the Games and Amusement Board against Michael Haaskamp and his promotion Legend FC.  The cases being filed are regarding:

 1.) Illegal and unethical hiring of fighters under contract with the URCC.  (It was also noted that they overmatched a poor Filipino fighter from the province who didn’t know any better, to make his own veteran fighters look good.)

 2.) Bringing legally registered Professional fighters outside the country without complying with any of the GAB’s requirements. Totally disregarding all of its rules and regulations

 3.) Hiring trainers who are blacklisted and unlicensed by the GAB. One trainer he enlisted, Marciano Basas, was denied a fighter and trainer license as he has Hepatitis and a series of other sicknesses that may be passed on.

 When asked for comment URCC Founder Alvin Aguilar said: “These foreigners think they can just come in and disregard the rules of our country and take advantage of our countrymen, and our efforts to promote Filipino MMA fighters around the world. Now that Philippine MMA is mainstream because of the URCC’s efforts, all sorts of foreigners are trying to make a quick buck off the efforts of OUR COUNTRYMEN. They even blatantly said that everyone is for sale here in our country. Well I’m sorry to say that we are not and this commission definitely is not for sale. I have personally dealt with them for ten years and they never asked me for a dime!  They will learn to respect the rules here, all of the so-called Filipinos that supposedly support them (if any) should be hung up on a tree alongside these foreigners. As the founder of professional mixed martial arts in the Philippines, I am duty bound to protect my fighters and ensure that all the laws regarding and protecting them are followed. We will not standby and let these foreigners take advantage of anyone here.  If ever I do meet them they will also learn the true meaning of BAKBAKAN NA!!!!”

There was a time when the term martial arts inspired two different archetypes. One was the image inspired by the traditional martial arts. Images of men clad in white kimonos shouting at the top of their lungs as they used their hands to chop through layers of bricks or threw their opponents to the air with one flick of their wrist. Then there was also the image that was formulated in the minds of those who were familiar with the words Sari-An, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu,  Suntokaran, Bakbakan, Paskuan, and No-Holds Barred. These images would depict fighters who hit each other with closed fists, without gloves, brought the fight to the floor where they either punched their opponents to sleep or tried to break someone’s arm until he gave up. The first image was traditional and was held out in the open. The second image of the multi-faceted street fighter was more exciting but then the locations where they held their events was a tightly guarded secret among its members. And there was the age old question, “Which among those different schools of self-defense was the best?”

This was all before November 23, 2002. This was all before an event held in Casino Filipino would change the way Filipinos looked at Martial Arts. It was dubbed URCC 1: Mayhem in Manila and it gave the different martial arts schools in the Philippines a venue to prove that they possessed the superior fighting system in our country. Fighters who were only versed in the striking arts would suffer defeat and utter domination as they were taken to the ground by fighters versed in the grappling arts. A whole system would be found wanting when TRACMA’s entire roster was wiped out save for one fighter who would eventually lose in the next URCC event. DEFTAC showcased Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and would start their reign as a powerhouse in Filipino MMA and WAP Wrestler TJ Tiu would begin his run as the most dominant heavyweight in URCC history. After that night, Mixed Martial Arts in the Philippines was born.

From that eventful night which saw a fight card having a staggering 19 fights, the URCC would grow from being considered a fad, a one hit wonder promotion into being the Philippines’ premier mixed martial arts institution. Competitors would come from left and right but without a true love for mixed martial arts, they would eventually fall. The incorporators of the URCC, headed by BJJ Blackbelt Alvin Aguilar would face a lot of challenges that would have dissuaded lesser people. The lack of funds and sponsors in the beginning did not stop them from putting up the best MMA event in the Philippines. It did not stop them from giving the fighters the best medical support if they needed it. It did not stop them from giving them a fair shake with their purses.

After ten years, Filipino fighters are now being praised abroad as they decimate their opponents from all over the world. The Philippines is now considered a hotbed of MMA in Asia. Even the UFC wants to do a lot of things here in the Philippines from The Ultimate Fighter to holding a UFC event. Now people see that fighting is not all about savagery but more about training and strategy. That it is an honourable sport, and if I may say, much more honourable than others. All of this now possible because of one fateful night when a group of people decided to show the Philippines what mixed martial arts is all about.

Thank you for the 10 years URCC. Now let’s get on to working for 50 more.