MMA RETURNS TO CEBU
Local MMA fans to see Cebuano fighters face off against visitors in a cage fight in No Way Out on Feb. 18 Yaw-Yan Ardigma founder Ekin Caniga vows to keep MMA alive in the local scene, wants all gyms in Cebu to unite
After a long lull, MMA finally returns to Cebu City.
Yaw-Yan Ardigma stages the second edition of the Cebu Extreme Fight League (CEFL) dubbed as “No Way Out” on Feb. 18 at the historic Cebu Coliseum featuring some of the best Cebuano fighters against visiting fighters from different areas of the Philippines.
“This is my dream to keep MMA alive here in Cebu and this cage has inspired me to organize more events,” said Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu founder Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga Jr. “I want all the gyms here in Cebu, not only Yaw-Yan, to be known everywhere.”
It is the first time for Yaw-Yan Ardigma to host an event using a cage. Its is also the first time that fighters from the different MMA gyms in Cebu are united against visiting fighters.
Experienced Yaw-Yan Ardigma striker Roel Rosauro headlines the pro-am MMA event against fellow former URCC fighter Urtych Alarin of Butuan City, while Project X’s Arnel Ylanan squares off with PXC veteran Genil Francisco of Olongapo City.
Rosauro is coming off a second-round knockout of Lorde Rey Yamit in a PXC show last August in Cagayan de Oro. Alarin’s last recorded fight is in 2015, a third-round submission win over Bernardo Pongyan in The Proving Grounds show.
He has won back-to-back fights and has a 3-1 slate, while Alarin is 3-3.
Ylanan, on the other hand, also fought on the same PXC card as Rosauro. He lost by split decision against Ruben Lanaza. Francisco, in the meantime, is fresh from a unanimous decision victory over Jayson Margallo in PXC event in Bicol. Ylanan is 5-2, while Francisco is 2-4.
Also featured in the main card is Mactan Combat Sports’ Niño Rio Saoy up against Ivan Rodley Victorio of Olongapo City.
“We’ll do our best to showcase the talent of the Cebuanos. We’ll do our best to do everything we can not to put to shame the Cebuanos,” said Rosauro.
Ylanan and Saoy both echoed Rosauro’s sentiments of being united and representing Cebu against outsiders.
“This is nice because it is the first time that we Cebuanos are united against outsiders. This is a great opportunity,” Ylanan said.
“It is good fighting on the same team and bringing the name of Cebu. Usually we are fighting against each other. I want us to be united,” said Saoy.
The show also features seven other bouts and two swing bouts.
Caniga promises to stage two more events this year, one an inhouse event in May or June and the other a Ground-and-Pound show in October.