Kiko Matos battles 'Damsa' in URCC celebrity clash

Kiko Matos will be back in action in possibly the first MMA fight card amid the pandemic.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--URCC shocked the local mixed martial arts community when it announced in 2016 that veteran actor Baron Geisler will go up against then up and coming thespian Kiko Matos.

While the match drew mixed reactions especially after it was revealed that it was part of a documentary, it became a game changer for the premier MMA promotion in the Philippines.

Four years later, Matos, who has become a de facto celebrity ambassador for URCC, is set to return to the cage.

Matos accepted the challenge of rapper Raymond Abrenica for an MMA fight on Dec. 5 by warning that this is no rap battle.

"Hindi ito FlipTop battle. This is MMA," Matos said on Thursday night in the Sports on Air podcast, pertaining to the premier rap battle league Abrenica, known in the rap music scene as Damsa, is a part of.

Matos then fired some verbal jabs at Abrenica, saying, "Talagang desididong tao ito, eh. Ewan ko ba sa mga FlipTop rappers na ito kung ano pumasok sa utak nila. Siguro sa tagal ng lockdown, siguro may COVID na utak nila. Ngayon gusto pumasok sa MMA?"

Matos later mocked Abrenica's claim that he was once an amateur boxer, saying, "Kahit nanay ko marunong nga makipag-away, eh."

Turning serious again, Matos added, "MMA pinasok niya. Hindi lang ito throw of hands. May kicks dito at may grappling dito."

Matos, who claims he has the better ground game, vowed, "Kung nasa sahig kami, kakainin ko siyang buhay."

If the match pushes through as scheduled, it could be the first MMA fight to happen locally amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional sports matches can only resume in areas under the modified general community quarantine.

Metro Manila mayors have recommended the extension of the classic GCQ until the end of the year, meaning URCC may need to hold the fight outside the province.

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