MIXED martial artists get another opportunity to showcase their true worth as they vie for fame and fortune in the Universal Reality Combat Championship’s main roster in the Prodigy Progression Series (PPS).
The mixed martial arts fight series presented by the URCC through its founder and president Alvin Aguilar was formally introduced to the media at the Dynasty Fight Club in Parañaque City last Friday.
Rene Catalan Jr., son of former ONE Championship title contender and 2006 Doha Asian Games wushu sanda gold medalist Rene Catalan Sr., and Marvin Malunes were among the current MMA stars who graced the occasion.
Aguilar, also the president of the URCC, confirmed that a total of P1 million prize is at stake in the MMA tournament series backed by Dynasty Fight Club owner Jun Lee.
“In this format, we’re going to make sure that we will be giving the highest payday ever in Philippine MMA history for all the winners,” URCC president Alvin Aguilar said.
The champion gets P500,000 while the losing finalist will receive P300,000 and third placer P200,000.
Lee praised URCC and Aguilar, saying the event will inspire and motivate MMA fighters to strive harder.
The fighters, according to Aguilar, are divided into four weight classes, the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight categories.
The tournament is now ongoing every night starting 9pm to 3am.
Aside the tournament’s final champions, the tournament’s monthly champions starting July will also be rewarded with P300,000 for first placer while second placer earns P100,000 and third placer gets P50,000.
While amateur rules will be applied in the PPS, Aguilar is looking at the possibility that the champions in the PPS will eventually get their first pro contracts in the URCC.
“We’re giving them very very good contracts,” Aguilar continued.
“Now, we promote a platform where it will become self-sustaining hopefully. All the fighters can benefit, and later on, we can actually give them good careers in MMA.”
