Universal Reality Combat Championship

Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) is the first professional mixed martial arts event based in the Philippines. Its inaugural event was held at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque, Philippines on November 23, 2002.[1] The URCC is under the supervision of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the government agency that sanctions games such as billiards, boxing and basketball. The URCC was founded in 2002 by Filipino BJJ Black belt Alvin Aguilar. The matches and events of the URCC are currently aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD, URCC's official broadcast partner.[2]

Universal Reality Combat Championship
Private
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
FoundedNovember 2002
Headquarters
Manila
,
Philippines
Key people
Alvin Aguilar (founder) Nico Rivera (President of URCC-USA)
Websiteurcc-mma.com

Notable fights and fighters

A number of URCC fighters have gone on to enjoy success fighting for mainstream MMA promotions. Chinese fighter Tiequan Zhang who fought at URCC 15 went on to fight for the WEC and the UFC and is currently ranked as one of the top featherweights in the world.[3] Dave "The Scarecrow" Galera, who won the URCC Interim Bantamweight at URCC 23[4] is the first homegrown Filipino Fighter to be signed by the UFC.[5]

Kevin Belingon, Eduard Folayang and Angelito Manguray all fought for ESPN Star Sports promotion Martial Combat in 2010 [6] while Folayang and Kelly both won fights at ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion on September 3, 2011.[7]

Actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos, who involved in a feud in May 2016 in a bar, were faced in an exhibition match during the URCC Fight Night card held at the Valkyrie at the Palace last June 25, 2016. This two-round fight, however ended in a unanimous draw.[8] After which, both Geisler and Matos reconciled each other.[9]

AT URCC 28: Vindication, the first-ever 3-on-3 MMA exhibition match took place.[10] The teams who competed were Team Chan and Team Estroso. All competitors were inside the cage simultaneously with three referees in charge of the action. The fight is momentarily halted after a competitor gets knocked or is unable to continue. Team Estroso won the fight with two of its fighters still standing while Team Chan was left with one.

On January 7, 2017, URCC held its first fight card in the United States of America.[11]

URCC held its second event in the United States in September 2017 in San Mateo, California. Officially called "URCC 32: Fury", the event was hosted at the San Mateo County event center and featured 3 title fights, as well as amateur fights sanctioned under California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO).

Events
# Event Date Venue Location
77 URCC: Rumble by the Bay August 10, 2019 Cow Palace Arena Daly City, California, United States of America
76 URCC Korea 1 June 22, 2019 Songdo Convention Center Incheon, South Korea
75 URCC 77: Raw Fury April 27, 2019 Cove Manila Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
74 URCC BETS 8 December 12, 2018 Coral Ballroom, Casino Filipino Pavilion Ermita, Manila, Philippines
73 URCC: Colossal September 29, 2018 Smart Araneta Coliseum Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
72 URCC 34: Destiny August 4, 2018 Craneway Pavillion Richmond, California, United States of America
71 URCC BETS 6: Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars June 15, 2018 Coral Ballroom, Casino Filipino Pavilion Ermita, Manila, Philippines
70 URCC 34 / Destiny MMA - Fight Night 4 February 17, 2018 Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
69 URCC BETS 4: Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars December 13, 2017 Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
68 URCC 32 - Fury: Battle of the Islands September 30, 2017 San Mateo County Event Center San Mateo County, California, United States of America
67 URCC BETS 3: Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars September 15, 2017 Coral Ballroom, Casino Filipino Pavilion Ermita, Manila, Philippines
66 URCC 30: Hofmann vs. Sothmann August 12, 2017 Smart Araneta Coliseum Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
65 URCC BETS 2: Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars April 21, 2017 Coral Ballroom, Casino Filipino Pavilion Ermita, Manila, Philippines
64 URCC BETS: Battle Extreme Tournament of Superstars[12] January 28, 2017 Coral Ballroom, Casino Filipino Pavilion Ermita, Manila, Philippines
63 URCC 29: Conquest January 7, 2017 Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California, United States of America
62 URCC 28: Vindication November 6, 2016 Marriott Hotel Ballroom Pasay City, Manila, Philippines
61 URCC Fight Night 1 June 25, 2016 Valkyrie at the Palace Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
60 URCC 27: Rebellion April 23, 2016 Marriott Hotel Ballroom Pasay City, Manila, Philippines
59 URCC 26: Domination July 25, 2015 Fontana Convention Hall Clark, Angeles, Philippines
58 URCC 25: Takeover October 23, 2014 Mall of Asia Arena Pasay City, Manila, Philippines
57 URCC: Relaunch July 31, 2014 Resorts World Hotel Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
56 URCC: Fight Night 1 January 31, 2014 BAMF MMA Center Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
55 URCC 24: Uprising November 30, 2013 SMX Convention Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
54 URCC: Bacolod City Brawl 2013 October 18, 2013 L'Fisher Hotel Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
53 URCC / Tribal Gear: Dutdutan Tattoo Festival 2013 September 27, 2013 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
52 URCC 23: Unrivaled April 27, 2013 SMX Convention Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
51 URCC Baguio 5: Unleashed March 2, 2013 Baguio Convention Center Baguio City, Philippines
50 URCC Cebu 8: Survival January 19, 2013 J. Centre Convention Hall Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines
49 URCC 22: Dekada December 1, 2012 Mall of Asia Arena Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
48 URCC: Bacolod Brawl 2012 October 19, 2012 L'Fisher Hotel Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
47 URCC: Davao Dimaan 4 August 26, 2012 Grand Oases Convention Center Davao City, Philippines
46 URCC 21: Warpath April 28, 2012 SMX Convention Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
45 URCC Baguio 4: Battleground February 18, 2012 Baguio Convention Center Baguio City, Philippines
44 URCC Cebu 7: Dominate January 13, 2012 Cebu International Convention Center Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
43 URCC: Rogue Magazine's Black Tie Brawl 2011 November 19, 2011 New World Hotel Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
42 URCC 20: XX November 5, 2011 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
41 URCC: Bacolod Brawl 2011 October 16, 2011 L'Fisher Hotel Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
40 URCC: University Challenge 2011 September 9, 2011 One Esplanade Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
39 URCC: Tribal Gear: Dutdutan Tattoo Festival 2011 August 26, 2011 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
38 URCC: Davao Digmaan 3 August 21, 2011 Garden Oases Resort & Convention Center Davao City, Philippines
37 URCC 19: Collision April 2, 2011 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
36 URCC Baguio 3: Invasion February 19, 2011 Baguio Convention Center Baguio, Philippines
35 URCC Cebu 6: Respect January 14, 2011 Cebu International Convention Center Cebu City, Philippines
34 URCC 18: Relenthless November 13, 2010 A-Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
33 URCC: Rouge Magazine's Black Brief Brawl 2010 October 29, 2010 New World Hotel Makati Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
32 URCC: Bacolod Brawl 2010 October 17, 2010 Hotel PAGCOR Bacolod, Philippines
31 URCC / Tribal Gear: Dutdutan Tattoo Festival 2010 September 24, 2010 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
30 URCC: University Challenge 2010 September 18, 2010 A-Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
29 URCC: Davao Digmaan 2 October 17, 2010 Garden Oases Resort & Convention Center Davao City, Philippines
28 URCC 17: Havoc July 24, 2010 A-Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
27 URCC 16: Reckoning March 27, 2010 A-Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
26 URCC Baguio 2: Tribal Wars February 19, 2010 Baguio Convention Center Baguio City, Philippines
25 URCC Cebu 5: Deliverance January 15, 2010 Cebu International Convention Center Cebu City, Philippines
24 URCC 15: Onslaught November 21, 2009 World Trade Center Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
23 URCC: Rouge Magazine's Black Tie Brawl 2009 October 24, 2009 Ranaissance Hotel Makati Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
22 URCC Bacolod Brawl 2009 October 17, 2009 West Negros Gym Negros Occidental, Philippines
21 URCC Davao Digmaan 2009 August 23, 2009 Davao Convention Center Davao City, Philippines
20 URCC Cebu 4: Proving Ground June 20, 2009 Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines
19 URCC 14: Aggression July 18, 2009 A.Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
18 URCC Baguio: Rumble in the Highlands March 7, 2009 Baguio Convention Center Baguio City, Philippines
17 URCC 13: Indestructible November 22, 2008 A-Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
16 URCC Cebu 3: Nemesis November 15, 2008 Cebu International Convention Centre Cebu, Philippines
15 URCC Rouge Magazine's Black Tie Brawl 2008 October 18, 2008 Hyatt Hotel Manila Metro Manila, Philippines
14 URCC 12: Supremacy July 5, 2008 A. Venue Events Hall Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
13 URCC Cebu 2 March 1, 2008 Waterfront City Hotel Cebu, Philippines
12 URCC 11: No Redemption November 25, 2007 One Esplanade Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
11 URCC Cebu 1 September 1, 2007 Royal Concourse Hall Cebu, Philippines
10 URCC 10: Xrated June 30, 2007 The Fort Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
9 URCC 9: Unstoppable December 2, 2006 The Arena San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
8 URCC 8: Undisputed May 20, 2006 The Amoy Arena San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
7 URCC 7: The Art of War December 10, 2005 Araneta Coliseum Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
6 URCC 6: Unleashed Fury June 25, 2005 Casino Filipino Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
5 URCC 5: Beyond Fear October 23, 2004 Casino Filipino Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
4 URCC 4: Return to the Dungeon April 24, 2004 Casino Filipino Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
3 URCC 3: Siege at the Fort September 20, 2003 The Fort Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
2 URCC 2: Night of Champions April 12, 2003 PhilSports Arena Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
1 URCC 1: Mayhem in Manila November 23, 2002 Casino Filipino Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

Rules

URCC-USA

All URCC fights hosted in the United States abide by the rules in place by the athletic commission of each respective state.

URCC

URCC's rules are different from those of established promotions.[13]

Match length

URCC matches consist of two rounds, each lasting ten minutes. Intermissions between each round are two minutes in length. All title bouts will have a 5-minute third round in case of a draw after the two rounds.

Weight classes
Division Upper weight limit
Atomweight (Women)48 kg (105.8 lb; 7.6 st)
Strawweight52.2 kg (115.1 lb; 8.2 st)
Flyweight56.7 kg (125.0 lb; 8.9 st)
Bantamweight61.2 kg (134.9 lb; 9.6 st)
Featherweight65.8 kg (145.1 lb; 10.4 st)
Lightweight70.3 kg (155.0 lb; 11.1 st)
Welterweight77.1 kg (170.0 lb; 12.1 st)
Middleweight83.9 kg (185.0 lb; 13.2 st)
Light heavyweight93 kg (205.0 lb; 14.6 st)
Cruiserweight102.1 kg (225.1 lb; 16.1 st)
Heavyweight120.2 kg (265.0 lb; 18.9 st)

Ring

The URCC uses a five-roped square ring from 2002 until 2013. On the 2014 event URCC 25: Take Over, the first URCC circular cage was released and planned to use it as official ring to the rest of the URCC history

Attire

URCC allows fighters latitude in their choice of attire but 4-ounce fingerless gloves and a mouthguard are mandatory. Shoes and derogatory markings on ring attire are forbidden. It is within a fighter's discretion to use other protective equipment such as groin guards.

Victory

Matches are won via:

  • Submission
    • Physical tap out
    • Verbal tap out
  • Knockout
    • A fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to immediately continue.
  • Technical Knockout
    • Referee Stoppage (the referee stops the match after seeing that one fighter is completely dominant to the point of endangering his opponent).
    • Doctor Stoppage (the referee stops the match in the event that a fighter is injured via a legal blow and the ring doctor determines that he cannot continue).
    • Forfeited Match (a fighter's corner throws in the towel).
  • Decision
    • If the match reaches its time limit then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. The fight is scored by a 10-point must system per round. A three step procedure per round is followed:
  1. Determine winner of round (can be draw),
  2. Determine if winner dominated round ,
  3. Fouls then factored in (subtract one point per foul from fighter).
    • Draws are acceptable in URCC matches.
  • Disqualification
    • A "warning" will be given in the form of a yellow card or a red card (any fighter who executes a foul technique shall be penalized with a talent fee reduction) when a fighter commits an illegal action or does not follow the referee's instruction. Two yellow cards shall lead to a disqualification "red card."
    • The referee's decision will always depend upon the level of violation committed by a fighter whether it is intentional or unintentional. Therefore, the referee may execute the "red card" even without showing the first two "yellow cards" as a caution for a disqualification
    • The referees are also authorized to execute the red "disqualification" card if a fighter has deliberately injured his opponent and can no longer compete.

Fouls

URCC considers the following to be fouls:

  1. Head butting.
  2. Eye gouging.
  3. Hair pulling.
  4. Biting.
  5. Fish hooking.
  6. Any attacks to the groin
  7. Strikes to the back of the head, which includes the occipital region and the spine. The sides of the head and the area around the ears are not considered to be the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch)
  8. Small joint manipulation (control of four or more fingers/toes is necessary).
  9. Intentionally throwing your opponent out of the ring.
  10. Running out of the ring.
  11. Purposely holding the ropes. Fighters cannot purposely hang an arm or leg on the ropes and it will result in an immediate warning.
  12. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
  13. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
  14. Throat strikes of any kind including without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
  15. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
  16. Grabbing the clavicle.
  17. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
  18. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
  19. Stomping on a grounded opponent.
  20. Kicking to the kidney with a heel.
  21. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
  22. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
  23. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
  24. Spitting at an opponent.
  25. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
  26. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
  27. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
  28. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
  29. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
  30. Flagrantly disregarding the instruction of the referee.
  31. Timidity, including without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
  32. Interference by the corner.
  33. Throwing in the towel during competition.
  34. Exceeding numbers of cornermen.
  35. Unauthorized cornerman.
  36. Any lock which puts strain on the neck joint.

Match conduct
  • If both fighters are on the verge of falling out of the ring or become entangled in the ropes, the referee will stop the action. The fighters must immediately stop their movements and will then be repositioned in the center of the ring in the same position. Once they are comfortably repositioned, they resume at the referee's instruction.

Current champions

Men

Division Champion Team Record (W-L-D)
Strawweight Anthony DoAmerican Kickboxing Academy6-3-0
Flyweight Ernesto Montilla Jr.D' Elements MMA Warrior's9-4-0
Bantamweight Drex ZamboangaToughGuys International8-5-0
Featherweight Mark StrieglAlliance Training Center PH18-2-0 (1 NC)
Lightweight Anthony TaylorTeam BodyShop7-5-0
Welterweight John AdajarHitman MMA5-1-0
Middleweight Chris HofmannDeftac8-1-0
Light Heavyweight Chris HofmannDeftac8-1-0
Cruiserweight Pete BrooksBrownhouse MMA9-0-0
Heavyweight Sugar Ray EstrosoGround and Pound MMA1-5-0

Women

Division Champion Team URCC Record (W-L-D)
Atomweight Suryin DuadPandan Fight Team3-0-0
Flyweight Geli BulaongSubmission Sport3-1-0
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References
  1. "No Quarter". FHM Philippines. 33: 106. February 2003.
  2. Villar, Joey (April 3, 2016). "URCC mapapanood sa ABS-CBN (URCC to be aired on ABS-CBN)". Pang-Masa. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  3. "Tiequan "The Wolf" Zhang MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog.com. 1978-07-25. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  4. Archived November 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  5. </ Archived December 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived February 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Press Release: Filipino Fighters Rule The Roost at ONE Fighting Championship". Mmavalor.com. September 3, 2011. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  8. Bandayrel, Rafael (June 25, 2016). "Baron Geisler, Kiko Matos fight to two-round draw". Rappler. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  9. Gagelonia, Dennis (June 25, 2016). "Baron Geisler vs Kiko Matos ends in draw". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  10. "Video and Results: URCC 28 hosts crazy 3 vs 3 bout". Bloody Elbow. 7 November 2016.
  11. "MMA: URCC invades US with 4 title fights in January". ABS-CBN News. December 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  12. "URCC, Casino Filipino team up for MMA event". ABS-CBN Sports. January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  13. "Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Rules". Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
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