MANILA — The inaugural winner of the Juego Todo Championship, a fusion of arnis and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), was finally rewarded with the top prize of a house and lot on Thursday.
Balai Cagayano chief operating officer Vergel Glorioso gave Genil Francisco the title to his new house and lot during the Usapang Sports forum of the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports at the National Press Club in Manila.
Witnessing the handing of the land title was Underground Battle Mixed Martial Arts (UGBMMA) founder Ferdie Munsayac, who organized the Juego Todo.
Francisco became the first champion for Juego Todo, a fusion of arnis and the usual MMA and is known as “weaponized cage fighting”, after winning the title bout against Monith Fabroa via a first-round knockout at UGB 35 in Sta. Ana, Cagayan last Dec. 20.
“It was a successful event,” Munsayac said of UGB 35 in general. “We made history on Dec. 20.”
Formerly a Metro Manila-based promotion, UGB has been holding fight cards in Cagayan recently with fighters down south, like Antipolo native Francisco and Cebu-based Fabroa, getting free transportation up north.
Asked on how he defeated Fabroa, Francisco said, “Sinugod ko siya kaagad. Pinilit ko siyang pasukuin (I attacked him from the start and forced him to give up).”
Francisco then said that he is willing to move from Antipolo to Santiago, where his new home can be found.
“Maganda naman po ng lugar. Napasyalan na po namin (The place is nice. We already visited the place),” Francisco said of Santiago, an independent city in Isabela Province.
Munsayac said a year-long Juego Todo tournament will be held to determine Francisco’s challenger in December this year.
“Mag-start po ang eliminations natin ngayong April 10 (Eliminations will start on April 10),” Munsayac said.
Like last year, a house and lot will also be on the line aside from Francisco’s belt. Francisco can opt for a different prize if he successfully defends his title.
“Meron siyang dalawang options, yung ipamimigay nating bahay–dalawa na ang bahay niya–or, since fighter ito, bibigyan ko siya ng option na magkaroon ng gym worth PHP1 million worth of equipment sa gym para pwede na siyang magturo (He has to options. He will have two houses (if he wins anew). Since he is a fighter, I will give him the option to have PHP1 million worth of gym equipment so that he can teach),” Munsayac said. (PNA)
