Saturday, May 30, 2009

BM Ko's "Bakbakan" MMA Tilts Huge Success Part I: MMA Goes to E.B. Magalona By: James U. Sy Jr.

The second of two successive historic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournaments was successfully sponsored by Hon. 3rd District Board Member Manuel Frederick “Manman” Ko last April 27, 2009 at the E. B. Magalona Public Plaza. It was dubbed “Bakbakan sa E. B. Magalona.”

The competition was the first ever MMA tournament to be held in E.B. Magalona. E.B. Magalona also earned the distinction as the first municipality in Negros Occidental to host an MMA competition in the province. Previous hosts had been cities, including Bacolod, Sagay, San Carlos, Talisay, and Victorias Cities.

Board Member Ko meanwhile is the first lawmaker to sponsor two successive MMA tournaments in Negros Occidental. After watching an MMA event at the Bacolod Casino Filipino, Ko was inspired to bring the sport closer to his constituents in Victorias, Silay, E.B. Magalona, Talisay, and Murcia. For him, it is one way of educating the general public of how an MMA competition is contested and at the same time to encourage the teens to go into sports instead of drugs.

Board Member Ko commissioned Victorias Karate pioneer Master Efraim T. Beatingo Sr. to organize the competition through his Undo-Kan Martial Arts Association (UMAA) in cooperation with 5 Martial Arts organizations from Victorias, Bacolod, and Talisay Cities.

RESULTS. A total of 7 bouts had been fought. Richard Claveras of Victorias Martial Arts (VMA) over Julius Dohinog of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main). Ferdinand Garcia of of Bassdumas Combat Sports (BCS) over Edmundo Lauresta of VMA. Marlon Deocampo of VMA over Marlon Anthony Cornelio of Bacolod. Randy de Asis of VMA over Rodney Santillan of Bacolod. Nilrax de Café of VMA over Joselito Bianan of BFMAA-Main. Rogelito Plomeda of Bacolod over Danilo de Asis of VMA. Romnick Malam of BCS also won his bout.

Instructors present were Tournament Director Founder/Master Efraim T. Beatingo Sr. of Undo-Kan Martial Arts Association (UMAA), Negros pioneer MMA referee Founder/Chief Instructor Maxwell “Big Max” J. Maun of Bacolod Aikido Enthusiasts (BAE), Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main), Founder/Master Roy R. Flores Sr. of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Ian Negrido of Bassdumas Combat Sports (BCS), and Coach Chester Laquian of Affinity.

BM Ko's "Bakbakan" MMA Tilts Huge Success Part I: MMA Goes to Victorias By: James U. Sy Jr.

Two historic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournaments were successively sponsored by Hon. 3rd District Board Member Manuel Frederick “Manman” Ko last April 2009 in Victorias City and then in the Municipality of E.B. Magalona.

The back-o-back presentation started off with the “Bakbakan sa Victorias” held last April 24, 2009 at the Skating Ring, Victorias City Public Plaza.

The competition was the first ever MMA tournament to be held in Victorias City.

Fighters from Victorias first entered the Negros MMA scene with their participation in the 2nd Gaisano-BOMB MMA Eliminations and Expo, which was held in 2004 in Bacolod City. The delegation was then under the banner of the now defunct Brotherhood Martial Arts Federation (BMAF).

The MMA craze in Negros started with the first MMA tournament presented by the Brotherhood of Mixed Martial Artists of Bacolod (BOMB) way back in 2004 at the Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall. Since then several tournaments had been held in Bacolod, Sagay, San Carlos, and Talisay Cities by a few promoters.

Board Member Ko commissioned Victorias Karate pioneer Master Efraim T. Beatingo Sr. to organize the competition through his Undo-Kan Martial Arts Association (UMAA) in cooperation with 5 Martial Arts organizations from Victorias, Bacolod, and Talisay Cities.

RESULTS. A total of 7 bouts had been fought. Richard Calaveras of Victorias Martial Arts (VMA) over Alfredo Balalista of Affinity. Daniel Elajos of Affinity over Rolin Castillo of Bassdumas Combat Sports (BCS). Julius Dohinog of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main) over Edmundo Lauresta of VMA. Romnick Malam of BCS over Jeremiah Gargar. Danilo de Asis of VMA over Randy Juanillo. Nilrax de Café of VMA over Joselito Bianan of BFMAA-Main. Rocky Batolbatol over Marlon Deocampo of VMA.

Instructors present were Tournament Director Founder/Master Efraim T. Beatingo Sr. of Undo-Kan Martial Arts Association (UMAA), Negros pioneer MMA referee Founder/Chief Instructor Maxwell “Big Max” J. Maun of Bacolod Aikido Enthusiasts (BAE), Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main), Founder/Master Roy R. Flores Sr. of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Ian Negrido of Bassdumas Combat Sports (BCS), and Coach Chester Laquian of Affinity.

Board Member Ko, who himself is an lover of Martial arts tournaments, believes that since MMA is the new craze in the martial arts nowadays, bringing it to his constituents can better educate them of this new type of tournament format.

Board Member Ko's area of jurisdiction includes Victorias, Silay, E.B. Magalona, Talisay, and Murcia.