Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) is the first and only professional mixed martial arts promotion based in the Philippines. Its inaugural event was held at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque, Philippines on November 23, 2002.[1] 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 FilipinoBJJ Black belt Alvin Aguilar, Franz von Muhlfeld, Jed Dario and Irwin Tieng. The matches and events of the URCC are aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD, URCC's official broadcast partner.[2]
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.[3] Dave "The Scarecrow" Galera, who won the URCC Interim Bantamweight at URCC 23[4] is the first homegrown Filipino Fighter to be signed by the UFC.[5]
Actors Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos, who involved in a feud in 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.[8] After which, both Geisler and Matos reconciled with each other.[9]
AT URCC 28: Vindication, the first-ever 3-on-3 MMA exhibition match took place.[10] 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.
URCC held its second event in the United States in September 2017 in San Mateo, California. Officially called "URCC 32: Fury", the event was hosted at the San Mateo County event center and featured 3 title fights, as well as amateur fights sanctioned under California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO).
Introduction of other Combat Sports
They have started to introduce other combat sports and spectacles in their events. URCC 80: Bare Madness[12] headlined a bareknuckle boxing match between Kenjohns Serrano and Map Soberano with undercard fights that included some MMA matches.
A few months after, in January 31, 2023, they held the first ever all-bareknuckle boxing event called URCC 82: Royal Knuckle[13] at Royal Club Makati.
URCC 84: Rage,[14] introduced the slap battle matches as part of the events' spectacle. At URCC 86,[15] included a couple of grappling superfights officiated under the UWW grappling rules.
On October 21, 2023, URCC held their first all-slap battle event that happened at DD Night Club in Quezon City.[16]
All URCC fights hosted in the United States abide by the rules in place by the athletic commission of each respective state.
URCC
URCC's rules are different from those of established promotions.[21]
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.
Weight classes
Division
Upper weight limit
Atomweight (Women)
48 kg (105.8 lb; 7.6 st)
Strawweight
52 kg (114.6 lb; 8.2 st)
Flyweight
57 kg (125.7 lb; 9.0 st)
Bantamweight
61 kg (134.5 lb; 9.6 st)
Featherweight
66 kg (145.5 lb; 10.4 st)
Lightweight
70 kg (154.3 lb; 11.0 st)
Welterweight
77 kg (169.8 lb; 12.1 st)
Middleweight
84 kg (185.2 lb; 13.2 st)
Light heavyweight
93 kg (205.0 lb; 14.6 st)
Cruiserweight
102 kg (224.9 lb; 16.1 st)
Heavyweight
120 kg (264.6 lb; 18.9 st)
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 released 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:
Submission
Physical tap out
Verbal tap out
Knockout
A fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to immediately continue.
Technical Knockout
Referee Stoppage (the referee stops the match after seeing that one fighter is completely dominant to the point of endangering his opponent).
Doctor Stoppage (the referee stops the match in the event that a fighter is injured via a legal blow and the ring doctor determines that he cannot continue).
Forfeited Match (a fighter's corner throws in the towel).
Decision
If the match reaches its time limit then the outcome of the bout is determined by the three judges. The fight is scored by a 10-point must system per round. A three step procedure per round is followed:
Determine winner of round (can be draw),
Determine if winner dominated round ,
Fouls then factored in (subtract one point per foul from fighter).
Draws are acceptable in URCC matches.
Disqualification
A "warning" will be given in the form of a yellow card or a red card (any fighter who executes a foul technique shall be penalized with a talent fee reduction) when a fighter commits an illegal action or does not follow the referee's instruction. Two yellow cards shall lead to a disqualification "red card."
The referee's decision will always depend upon the level of violation committed by a fighter whether it is intentional or unintentional. Therefore, the referee may execute the "red card" even without showing the first two "yellow cards" as a caution for a disqualification
The referees are also authorized to execute the red "disqualification" card if a fighter has deliberately injured his opponent and can no longer compete.
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)
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.
Match conduct
If both fighters are on the verge of falling out of the ring or become entangled in the ropes, the referee will stop the action. The fighters must immediately stop their movements and will then be repositioned in the center of the ring in the same position. Once they are comfortably repositioned, they resume at the referee's instruction.
