Nigerian MMA fighter to strut wares in ‘CEFL: Respect’ card

CEBU, Philippines - Nigerian mixed martial artist Simon Uchenna is raring to show his stuff as he battles the more experienced  Rodel ‘Pitbull’ Valisado' in the supporting main event of action-packed 'Cebu Extreme Fight League:Respect' fightcard this Saturday night at the Cebu City Sports Institute in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City.

Uchenna, fighting under the banner of Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu, hopes to make an impression in his maiden venture in the amateur ranks.

“I know that my opponent is undefeated in three fights but I am ready for him. I came to Cebu to study but I found and fell in love with the martial art of Yaw-Yan. I am very thankful to Master Ekin because he believed in my potentials and gave me a chance to fight,” said Uchenna, a marine engineering student of the University of the Visayas.

“Valisado has a powerful punch, but I am taller than him. I want to utilize all my advantages and I am just going to fight smart,” added the 22-year-old Uchenna.

For his part, Yaw-Yan ArDigma Martial Arts Founder Master Benigno 'Ekin' R. Caniga, Jr. expects fireworks inside the steel cage come the big night.

“Simon has been training with us in just four months but he already showed a lot of promise,” said Master Ekin. “This would be a great fight. Valisado is a veteran and a knockout specialist, but Simon is looking for a stoppage.”

In the main event of the slambang show co-presented by Cebu City Sports Commission and HASI Fight wear, Brazilian Jiujitsu expert Cipoz ‘Aquaman’ Guadez of CITI BJJ will go up against Tonix ‘Silent Killer’ Borres of JB Dream Fitness Gym.

Aside from the main cards, there will also be seven MMA bouts with four kickboxing matches in the preliminaries.

Tickets are priced at P700 for the cageside, P500 for VIP and 200 for upperbox. For inquiries and tickets reservations, one may contact 0943-6568900. (FREEMAN)