The time is now for local MMA

With the influx of fighters with major potential that we have here in the Philippines, it’s still mind-boggling to think why Filipinos haven’t fully embraced the sport of mixed martial arts.

Some would argue that it’s too “brutal” and too “raw” for Filipino fans, but people who are arguing this were also the ones cheering and screaming when Manny Pacquiao was pulverizing Antonio Margarito’s eye socket in their fight some years ago.

Some would argue that MMA is still in its infancy and that Filipinos are not yet ready to patronize a sport that seems so “foreign” and with rules that they aren’t accustomed to. Tell that to the thousands of fans cheering for Chuck Liddel when he went here or the producers of a certain TV show who decided to jump on Brandon Vera’s fame in his heydays in the UFC.

In case you might be wondering, the door is right there and all we need to do for an MMA boom in this country is to walk right through it.

While people would say that certain fighters with Filipino blood have made waves in Philippine sports pages and shows like Brandon Vera, Philippe Nover and most recently, Mark Munoz to name a few, there is still something that alienates Filipino fans from truly jumping into the MMA ship. And that’s where the problem arises.

People still tend to put MMA on the sidelines mainly because we have yet to find someone who Filipino fans can truly relate to. I’m talking about a homegrown fighter, born and raised in the Philippines, shed blood and sweat in Philippine gyms and made a name for himself while fighting in a Philippine-based organization. This is not a problem on the part of fighters and promoters here in the Philippines as we’ve seen many talented Filipino fighters already make waves in certain Asian MMA organizations, the problem is within us, mainstream media and the Filipino fans.

I have personally seen people dedicate their lives in trying to promote the sport. Take for example our friends over at the URCC, most specifically URCC founder Alvin Aguilar, who jumped right into the MMA business when no one actually cared about the sport way back in 2002. As I’ve said, the problem is within us, impatient fans and impatient media men who’re only willing to jump right into the spotlight once the table is ready and the meals are served. The problem is that no one actually wants to take a gamble in trying to promote a “young” sport that could bring more honor to flag and country because of the potential of many local MMA fighters right now.

The problem is we are just “fans” of winners. Despite being known for a nation that roots for “underdogs” no one actually cares about you or your sport until you start winning. Tell me, how many of you dropped Brandon Vera like a hot sack of potatoes right after he started losing in the UFC? Tell me, how many of you will remember Mark Munoz should he, and I hope not, lose again in his next few fights?

That is the problem right there. We are impatient. We don’t want to support people who are not “there” yet. I would also like to remind you that Manny Pacquiao made a name for himself while fighting in a Filipino based promotion, Blow by Blow. The question is, if we can do it for boxing, why can’t we do it in a sport with the same potential as it like Mixed Martial Arts?

The good news is, it’s not too late. It’s never too late. With the joint promotion of URCC and ONE FC and their effort to put together a card as huge as the ONE FC card in August, it could be a perfect time for Filipinos to showcase their talents on a mainstream level. With the UFC opening their doors to lower weight divisions from 125 to 145 last year, the next international Filipino sports superstar could be right at our doorstep, but because we keep on waiting for something to be handed at us on a silver platter, we’ve failed to notice him. But right now with the efforts of promoters Alvin Aguilar and Victor Cui, all we need to do is just watch and support a booming sport unfold right at our very eyes.

Right now is the perfect time to be an MMA fan and promote the sport among Filipinos. It’s never too late to support it.