Type Private Founded November 2002 | Website urcc-mma.com | |
Key people Alvin Aguilar (founder) |
Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) is the first professional mixed martial arts event based in the Philippines. Its inaugural event was held at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in ParaƱaque, Philippines on November 23, 2002. The URCC is under the supervision of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the government agency that sanctions games such as billiards, boxing and basketball. The URCC was founded in 2002 by Filipino BJJ Black belt Alvin Aguilar. The matches and events of the URCC are currently aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD, URCC's official broadcast partner.
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Notable fights and fighters
A number of URCC fighters have gone on to enjoy success fighting for mainstream MMA promotions. Chinese fighter Tiequan Zhang who fought at URCC 15 went on to fight for the WEC and the UFC and is currently ranked as one of the top featherweights in the world. Dave "The Scarecrow" Galera, who won the URCC Interim Bantamweight at URCC 23 is the first homegrown Filipino Fighter to be signed by the UFC.
Kevin Belingon, Eduard Folayang and Angelito Manguray all fought for ESPN Star Sports promotion Martial Combat in 2010 while Folayang and Kelly both won fights at ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion on September 3, 2011.
Actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos, who involved in a feud on May 2016 in a bar, were faced in an exhibition match during the URCC Fight Night card held at the Valkyrie at the Palace last June 25, 2016. This two-round fight, however ended in a unanimous draw. After which, both Geisler and Matos reconciled each other.
AT URCC 28: Vindication, the first-ever 3-on-3 MMA exhibition match took place. The teams who competed were Team Chan and Team Estroso. All competitors were inside the cage simultaneously with three referees in charge of the action. The fight is momentarily halted after a competitor gets knocked or is unable to continue. Team Estroso won the fight with two of its fighters still standing while Team Chan was left with one.
On January 7, 2017, URCC hold its first fight card in the United States of America.
Rules
URCC's rules are different from those of established promotions.
Match length
URCC matches consist of two rounds, each lasting ten minutes. Intermissions between each round are two minutes in length. All title bouts will have a 5-minute third round in case of a draw after the two rounds.
Ring
The URCC uses a five-roped square ring from 2002 until 2013. On the 2014 event URCC 25: Take Over, the first URCC circular cage was release and planned to use it as official ring to the rest of the URCC history
Attire
URCC allows fighters latitude in their choice of attire but 4-ounce fingerless gloves and a mouthguard are mandatory. Shoes and derogatory markings on ring attire are forbidden. It is within a fighter's discretion to use other protective equipment such as groin guards.
Victory
Matches are won via:
- Determine winner of round (can be draw),
- Determine if winner dominated round ,
- Fouls then factored in (subtract one point per foul from fighter).
Fouls
URCC considers the following to be fouls:
- Head butting.
- Eye gouging.
- Hair pulling.
- Biting.
- Fish hooking.
- Any attacks to the groin
- Strikes to the back of the head, which includes the occipital region and the spine. The sides of the head and the area around the ears are not considered to be the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch)
- Small joint manipulation (control of four or more fingers/toes is necessary).
- Intentionally throwing your opponent out of the ring.
- Running out of the ring.
- Purposely holding the ropes. Fighters cannot purposely hang an arm or leg on the ropes and it will result in an immediate warning.
- Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
- Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
- Throat strikes of any kind including without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
- Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
- Grabbing the clavicle.
- Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
- Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
- Stomping on a grounded opponent.
- Kicking to the kidney with a heel.
- Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
- Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
- Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
- Spitting at an opponent.
- Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
- Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
- Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
- Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
- Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
- Flagrantly disregarding the instruction of the referee.
- Timidity, including without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
- Interference by the corner.
- Throwing in the towel during competition.
- Exceeding numbers of cornermen.
- Unauthorized cornerman.
- Any lock which puts strain on the neck joint.