The UFC completed a memorable first trip to the Philippines earlier today by packing out the 18,000 seater Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.
While Edgar vs. Faber and Mousasi vs. Philippou were the main and co-main bouts of the evening, the Philippines no doubt played host to a triple header with Mark Munoz’s swansong performance serving as the people’s main event. ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine’ ventured to the land of his parents’ birth seeking a dream farewell and retirement on his own terms, and the roaring crowd were with him throughout the Manila classic.
Taking on the UK’s Luke Barnatt (8-3), Munoz (14-6) did all but secure the stoppage himself with a dominant and mightily physical effort that brought an inspiring and well deserved end to a three fight losing streak. A relentless wrestling assault with seemingly uncapped ‘Donkey Kong punches’ wowed the roaring crowd with Barnatt proving impressively durable in his attempt to survive and counter the offensive Munoz, landing a stiff knee as his opponent shot in for the takedown, and even snatched round 2, the closest of the 3, on one judge’s scorecard.
In the co-main event, Costas Philippou (13-5-1NC) was in tremendous physical shape but it was seasoned veteran Gegard Mousasi (37-5-2) who counted a 37th career win in rather dominant fashion to continue his momentum from a first round knockout win over Dan Henderson in January. Despite boasting kickboxing prowess of his own, the well rounded Mousasi admittedly played it safe on the ground and explained post-fight that he wasn’t interested in risking a KO loss against a striking specialist when his edge in the grappling department was so apparent.
In the main event, former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar (19-4-1) ran to the Octagon with strong determination and lined himself up to face the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor in a featherweight title bout after dismissing perennial contender and featherweight icon Urijah Faber (32-8) with a lopsided decision victory, taking all 5 rounds with a heavily technical performance.
Full UFC Fight Night: Manila results below.
Main card
Featherweight: Frankie Edgar vs. Urijah Faber Decision (unanimous) (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) 5 5:00
Middleweight: Gegard Mousasi def. Costas Philippou Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
Middleweight: Mark Muñoz def. Luke Barnatt Decision (unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) 3 5:00
Welterweight: Neil Magny def. Hyun Gyu Lim TKO (punches) 2 1:24
Featherweight: Phillipe Nover def. Yui Chul Nam Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 3 5:00
Featherweight: Levan Makashvili def. Mark Eddiva Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card
Lightweight: Jon Tuck def. Tae Hyun Bang Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 3:56
Lightweight: Kajan Johnson def. Zhang Lipeng Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) 3 5:00
Welterweight: Li Jingliang def. Dhiego Lima KO (punches) 1 1:25
Catchweight (137 lbs): Ning Guangyou def. Royston Wee TKO (punches and elbows) 2 4:59
Flyweight: Jon Delos Reyes def. Roldan Sangcha-An Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 3:13
Flyweight: Yao Zhikui def. Nolan Ticman Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 3 5:00
