MMA: UFC's first Asia event of the year to be held in Manila in October

A packed venue at Marina Bay Sands for the UFC Fight Night 34 on Jan 4, 2014. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, has announced on Thursday (June 23) its first Asia event of this year.

The UFC Fight Night Manila will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Oct 15.

The event marks a return of the Las Vegas-based organisation to the Philippines, where the promotion hosted its first show in the country in May last year, in front of more than 13,000 fans.

The Octagon visited Asia five times in 2014 (Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Japan and twice in Macau), and thrice last year (Manila, Japan and Seoul).

Executive vice-president and general manager of UFC Asia, Kenneth Berger, said: "We are very excited to be back in the Philippines. The consistently warm reception we receive from Filipino fans and last year's sold-out event shows us that UFC has an incredibly strong following in the country.

"Manila is a fighting city and we hope to put on another unforgettable show that will capture the hearts of Filipino sports fans throughout the country."

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