MANILA, Philippines -- Is there a place for a no-holds-barred sport like mixed martial arts in a country where people take things personally? Apparently there is, according to Fearless Fighting Productions USA chief Benny Tuazon Jr., who said that the fight sport has been enjoyed by enthusiasts here for years.
“I tell you one thing, it has been here for a long time,” said Tuazon, who is born to Filipino parents in the United States. “We are just taking it to the next level by bringing all the best fighters in the world, especially those from the United States and Europe.”
The roots of the sport here prompted Tuazon to make the Philippines the first Asian country to witness mixed world-caliber martial arts action through the “Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge,” on Dec. 9 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“The sport raised eyebrows in the 1990s,” said Tuazon, “but so many guidelines have been implemented since then.”
Tuazon said that action in the Ring of Fire fight program will be for real.
“Our reputation is important to us,” said Hawaiian Kino Leopoldo, who will coach the alternate team. “There are two ways to go outside the ring. One is to get carried out like this (clutching somebody by the neck) and on a stretcher. Horizontally.”
Sporting tattoos that covered his massive 6-foot-3 frame, Leopoldo added: “You will see every single guy fighting top-notch, high-caliber action. We have to protect our reputation.”
There will be four teams clashing in the explosive one-day event -- Team Gokor, Team Shamrock, Team Gracie and Team Barnett.
Big-name mixed martial artists Jeff Monzon, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Rico Rodriguez, John Marsh, Yuki Kondo and Jorge “Macaco” Patino arrived over the weekend to help promote the event. They will visit malls and schools prior to the Dec. 9 action, according to Tuazon.
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