The URCC doesn’t generate much publicity. The long running Filipino promotion prefers to keep things low key but there was a fight card at the Manila Jockey Club last night with 18 mixed martial artists in action.
URCC BETS VIII pitted Filipino bantamweight Ernie Braca against Kim Ki Sung. With the rounds only lasting three minutes there wasn’t much time for either man to impose themselves on the fight but the Korean ultimately prevailed with a split decision win.
In the opening fight there was not much by way of offence from the Korean. Braca attacked with low kicks and landed a solid right hand, his opponent looked stunned and the Filipino started attacking wildly but Sung was able to buy time by tying him up in the clinch.
Braca looked very confident at the start of the second stanza and scored with more low kicks. Sung tried to counter with a couple of kicks of his own and then easily took the Filipino down. He looked to score with punches from half guard but the round ended before the Korean could do any real damage.
Sung suddenly seemed to realize he could win the fight with this strategy and took Braca down immediately at the start of the third. He found himself in half guard but was denied the opportunity to capitalize with strikes or submission attempts when the referee immediately stood the fighters up.
Undeterred Sung scored another takedown after a wild punching exchange. He took Braca’s back and sank his hooks in. The short rounds counted against him with the bell sounding just when it seemed the Korean might be on the verge of a submission win.
Braca landed the more meaningful shots but two of the three judges preferred the positional control of Sung. The Filipino drops to 3-4 while the Korean improves to 2-2 and now has two wins out of two inside the URCC cage.
URCC BETS VIII, Manila, December 12th
Kim Ki Sung def. Ernie Braca by Decision (Split) at 3:00 of round 5
Dave Bangguigui def. Solomon Dultra by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:08 of round 3
Dolores Meek def. Tin Simpao by TKO at 2:34 of round 2
Miguel Mosquera def. Jorlan Formentera by Submission (Armbar) 1:29 of round 1
Cho Seung Hyun def. Jun Fagyan by KO at 1:40 of round 2
Mark Allen Fabriga def. Adrian Francisco by Decision (Unanimous) at 3:00 of round 3
Charles Diao def. Rick Lucena by Decision (Unanimous) at 3:00 of round 3
Moises Ilongon def. Ely Fernandez by Submission (Armbar) at 2:27 of round 3
Jessie Bitaga def. Jeilord Alvarez by Decision (Unanimous)
