UFC marks PHL return with October card

MANILA, Philippines – The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to the Philippines for a reprise.

Riding on the smashing success of its memorable debut in the country last year, the UFC will be back in Manila on October 15 for a UFC Fight Night card that will take place at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“We are very excited to be back in the Philippines,” UFC Executive Vice President and UFC-Asia General Manager Kenneth Berger said in a statement.

“The consistently warm reception we receive from Filipino fans and last year’s sold out event shows us that UFC has an incredibly strong following in the country. Manila is a fighting city and we hope to put on another unforgettable show that will capture the hearts of Filipino sports fans throughout the country,” he added.

Although no bouts have been announced for the UFC Fight Pass event, it is expected to have a loaded card similar to the Frankie Edgar-Urijah Faber showdown that headlined UFC Fight Night Manila, which drew 13,000 fans.

It was also during that card that Fil-Am Mark Munoz emerged victorious and retired.

It will also be UFC's first event in Asia this year after going to Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Japan and twice in Macau two years ago and Manila, Japan and Seoul, Korea last year.

Bantamweight and flyweight contender John Dodson, who was brought here by Cignal TV, UFC's official broadcast partner in the country, is expected to be in that card due to his Filipino lineage.

Dodson, who owns an 18-7 (win-loss) record, has a Filipino mother.

"I hope I'm in that card," said Dodson.

Dodson, an Albuquerque, New Mexico native, is here to promote the UFC Bantamweight Fighter Tour.

UFC Fight Night Manila 2016 is sponsored by Monster Energy, Harley Davidson Asia Pacific, Hudson Shipping Lines, Reebok Philippines, Lazada Philippines and Police Watches and supported by Cignal TV, Hyper Ch. 53, Sports5 and Hyper HD Ch. 130 and TV5.