FORMER Ultimate Fighting Championship king Quinton `Rampage’ Jackson will be the main guest during the King of the Cage-Philippines (KOTC-PH) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night.
Not only will Jackson get to interact with the fans, he will also be the main spectator to 10 local fights and two featured international bouts in the first ever Philippine edition of the United States-based Mixed Martial Arts organization.
Jackson started his career at KOTC just like other MMA superstars Rashad Evans, Thiago `Pitbull’ Alves, Urijah `The California Kid’ Faber, and Diego `The Nightmare’ Sanchez.
KOTC-PH chairman Ray Young said promising local MMA fighters will now have another avenue to show their wares in the global arena.
“Filipinos will now have better chances to be seen by scouts in the US. We’re very excited about the opportunity in promoting, developing, and bringing exposure to these prospects in the Philippines through the King of the Cage global platform,” said Young, who was guest in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
“Soon we’ll have a KOTC world champion coming out of the Philippines who will be recognized globally and will have the ability to compete throughout the world.”
The 20 local fighters underwent rigorous selection process by Tag Team Sports Management led by local MMA icon Erwin Tagle.
The event features two colossal world championship fights between middleweight title holder Sean Strickland (11-0) and Japanese Yuske Sakashita.
Strickland, 22, is from Southern California who has a background in jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling, among others. He also appeared in the weekly session presented by Shakey’s and PAGCOR, together with KOTC founder Terry Trebilcock, who has produced over 400 fights which were broadcast in the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
Korean Kaleo Kwan takes on American Joe Condon in the other main dish of the event supported by Solaire Resort and Casino, SM Ticketnets, and Solar Sports.
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