Mixed martial arts’ own “Thrilla in Manila” will come off the wraps on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum with some of the biggest names in the sport in action.
Dubbed "Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge," the one-day, pay-per-view mixed martial arts extravaganza will be headlined by such highly-respected names as Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie, Josh Barnett and Gokor Chivichyan.
"It will be a day to remember in the world of mixed martial arts," said Ron dela Torre, CEO of Platinum Fighting Productions, organizer of the event.
"Through the Ring of Fire, we will put mixed martial arts on the Southeast Asian map. This pay-per-view event will be huge and will earn its title as the ‘Thrilla in Manila II,’" added De la Torre.
Shamrock, Gracie, Barnett and Chivichan, all MMA champions, will be coaching their own teams.
"Having world champion fighters coached by world champion fighters creates a combination for world class fights and tons of actions," said Platinum Fighting’s Bobby Gamboa.
In the "Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge," Team Gracie is slated to compete against Team Shamrock while Team Barnett will square off against Team Gokor.
Team Gracie will be bannered by experienced grapplers Cleber Luciano, Jorge "Macaco" Patino, Daniel Serafian, John Marsh and Katrine Alendal.
Team Shamrock will be led by Evan Dunham, Kyacey Uscola, Mike Whitehead, Ricco Rodriguez and Tonya Evinger.
Team Barnett will field Koji Oishi, Yuki Kondo, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Jeff Monson and Ginele Marquez. Team Gokar includes Karen Darabdeyan, August Wallen, Rodney Faverus, Hakim Gouran and Amanda Buckner.
The alternate team, Team Kimo, will feature David Gardner, Steve Headdon, Fernando Gonzales, Hector Ramirez and Sherri Thompson.
After the Manila leg, the series shifts to Macau, Japan and China, with the best two teams advancing to the Final Ring of Fire next month. Under the MMA format, four male fighters and one female fighter from each of the four teams will compete against five fighters from one of the opposing teams.
The fights will be held in a circular cage with elbows, stomps and knees to the head of grounded opponents all being legal.
The California State Athletic Commission will supply the judges for the event. The Ring of Fire: World Team Challenge is being held in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, ABS-CBN Sports, Studio 23 , OTM Fight Shop, Hitman Fight Gear, Tapout Magazine and Forty Thieves.Tickets are available at all SM Department Stores Customer Service Area and at the Araneta Coliseum Ticket Booths.
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