Chope wrests interim featherweight title, Chan-Sarenas bout scratched

In an epic display of aggression from both sides throughout the fight, Dave Galera kept his unblemished record intact in the main event of Universal Reality Combat Championship 23: Unrivaled on Saturday at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Galera, who now sports a 5-0 card in his URCC career, is now part of the growing list of champions produced by Lakay MMA following his third round technical knockout of DEFTAC’s Red Romero to claim the URCC interim bantamweight belt.

In the supporting bout, American Muay Thai fighter Will Chope of Phuket Top Team handily forced Andrew Benibe of Maic’s Gym to tapout in the 3:34 mark of the first round via a rear naked choke to wrest the interim featherweight title.

Pinoys trump Chinese counterparts in undercard

Two out of three Pinoy fighters claimed victories against their Chinese counterparts in the night’s undercard bouts.

Reynaldo Transmonte of Team Submission Sports defeated Suai Guga via tapout at the 2:09 mark of Round 2 in a clash of middleweights, and MJ Abrillo of Yaw Yan Kampilan gained a unanimous decision victory in Qing Long’s professional MMA debut in a flyweight division clash.

However, the Chinese fighters from Ao Hai Ling MMA gained a consolation victory when Fei Gou Lin claimed a unanimous decision victory over Yaw Yan Buhawi’s Alvin Aguilar in the bantamweight division.

In the main undercard match, knockout artist Vaughn Donayre was brought to the distance for the first time in his professional MMA career but remains unbeaten in six bouts after gaining a split decision victory over Rex De Lara that drew some jeers from the packed crowd in attendance.

Pinweight fighter Roy Doliguez of Tribal Submission opened the night with a domination of Elorde MMA’s Lito Adiwang, who tapped out to a rear naked choke hold at the 2:08 mark of Round 2.

In the middleweight division, Safehouse Gym’s Melchor Cases spoiled the professional debut of Team DEFTAC’s Mark Somes through a unanimous decision victory.

Chan-Sarenas lightweight bout scratched

Meanwhile, the scheduled bout pitting D’Elements Safehouse Gym’s Arvin Chan and Submission Sports’ Froilan Sarenas for the interim lightweight belt was a late scratch from the 10-bout card, as both fighters failed to make weight according to an official statement by URCC via their Twitter account.

Despite being over the weight limit, Sarenas still opted to go through with the fight and Chan declining, according to the report.

URCC 23: UNRIVALED RESULTS
CO-MAIN EVENTS
Interim Bantamweight Championship: Dave Galera (5-0) def. Red Romero (5-4) via TKO (Round 3, 3:43)

Interim Featherweight Championship: Will Chope (16-5) def. Andrew Benibe (4-4) via tapout, rear naked choke (Round 1, 3:34)

UNDERCARD
Pinweight – 119 lbs: Roy Doliguez (3-1) def. Lito Adiwang (3-1) via tapout, rear naked choke (Round 2, 2:08)

Bantamweight – 139 lbs: Reynaldo “Onyok” Transmonte (4-2) def. Suai Guga (2-1) via tapout (Round 2, 2:09)

Middleweight – 179 lbs: Melchor Cases (2-0) def. Mark Somes (0-1) via unanimous decision

Flyweight – 129 lbs: MJ Abrillo (2-2) def. Qing Long (0-1) via unanimous decision

Bantamweight – 139 lbs: Fei Guo Lin (14-1) def. Alvin Ramirez (5-6) via unanimous decision

Lightweight – 159 lbs: Edmund “The Hitman” Velasco (2-0) def. Angelito Manguray (4-3) via TKO (Round 2, 3:46)

Lightweight – 159 lbs: Vaughn Donayre (6-0) def. Rex De Lara (2-3) via split decision