'Slap rap' makes debut in URCC 84

URCC 84 is now on!
By Dugout Philippines

MANILA—Two highly-respected mixed martial arts bouts will be showcased while the newest slap rap battle will have its debut in the upcoming Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) 84 Rage on April 25 at the Xylo at the Palace in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig. 

URCC founder and president Alvin Aguilar announced recently the exciting line-up of the URCC fight card 84 entitled Rage featuring the MMA flyweight main event bout between jiu-jitsu black belters Eros Baluyot (1-0) and Elouie Federic "EF" Sevilla (5-3).

“We have these two of the best [jiu-jitsu] black belters in the Philippines going with each other and I really can’t wait for April 25,” Aguilar said. “We’ll also be hosting the first ever slap rap battle — it’s first of its kind. We have a lot of innovative things we’d like to introduce here in URCC.”

Unlike the respect shown by Baluyot and Sevilla with each other, Arvin “Sharpshooter” Chan and Costa Rican fighter Mariano “The Hitman” Jones exchanged personal verbal jabs prior to their welterweight showdown. 

The 33-year-old Chan (8-9) even went outside Xylo to confront and slap the 26-year-old Jones (1-0) that drew the attention of the fans and heated up their upcoming bout supported by the most trusted online casino in the Philippines Nuebe Gaming and the flavourful Vietnamese Highlands Coffee. 

“We want to see how the saga of Arvin Chan and Mariano Jones come to end,” Aguilar added. 

Aside from the two main event bouts, the lone women's strawweight bout between Jomary Torres (4-5) and undefeated Mariane Mariano (2-0) will also take place.

In the preliminary bouts, Rex De Lara (10-8) battles debuting John Carranza (1-0) in the featherweight class, while Rhino Casipe (0-0) meets Kervin Lampacan (0-0) in the flyweight category, and Marvin Dela Cruz (0-1) clashes against Denzel Dimaguila (1-2) in a flyweight bout.

In the amateur bouts, Nigerian Emmanuel Epkeusi (4-3) squares off with Indian Mohammed Aslam (10-0) at welterweight and Jan Ilarde (2-0) collides against AJ Castellano (2-0) in the heavyweight category. 

In the first-ever slap rap battle, Ronmar A. Tubig (South Piezze) meets Joneil Deo Destreza (Sirdeo) while John Kenneth Reyes (Cloza Mafia) faces Daniel Ray Wiggins (Taz Wiggins).

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