PAREHONG kampeon sa mixed martial arts. Kapwa may malasakit sa Pinoy fighters.
Ang nagkakaisang damdamin ang nagtulak kina Burn Soriano ng Hitman MMA at Irishman Laurence Canavan ng Cage Gladiators upang magbigkis at itatag ang Cage Gladiator: Fight Night na naglalayong pataasin ang level ng kompetisyon sa local MMA at mabigyan nang sapat at maayos na pagtrato ang mga fighters.
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"Local MMA, we have been here since 2007. We’ve seen a lot of abuses on the part of the fighters. So when I met Laurence we decided to unite and promote MMA, level up the sports and help our local fighters,” pahayag ni Soriano, isa sa kilalang Pinoy fighter na nagtagumpay sa international MMA promotion.
“We are here for the fighters and that is the truth. We do these events for the fighters," sambit ni Soriano.
Hindi naman estranghero sa kalagaran ng sports si Canavan na naninirahan bansa nang mahigit 15 taon. Ang dating rish Ranger 2nd Regiment Cobra Coy Division member ay isang undefeated military kickboxing champion.
“I’ve seen some of the local organizations ran by Filipinos using these young fighters to make off of their blood and sweat,” pahayag ni Canavan. “They’re actually charging their own fighters to fight in their own event. That is outrageous.”
Ikinalulungkot ni Canavan ang pang-aabuso sa mga fighters na nagnanais na magkaroon ng pagkakataon na maipamalas ang kanilang talento.
“The fighters are charges with P1,000 and the event would also charge 750 pesos as audience entrance fee.That’s tantamount to abuse,” aniya.“We hope there would be a regulatory body to step here at some stage and stop this from happening.”
Sa tambalan nina Soriano at Canavan, target ng dalawa na makapag-promote ng maraming event para mas mabigyan ang mga fighters nang tamang venue at makamit ang tamang kabayaran sa kanilang sakripsiyo sa mahabang pagsasanay.
"I believe in giving back to the community. I’ve done a lot of programs for the poor children like feeding programs, but one of my passions is really MMA. When I found out about the fighters here, and I started to take a closer look at the fighters, we really have a deep talent pool in this country for MMA. Eventually I find out that there’s no assistance for them, so I formed a non-profit organization," pahayag ni Canavan.
"Pinaka-magagawa namin ngayon is to support the up-and-coming fighters. Tapos gumagawa kami ng palaro, inaayos namin, cinocompensate namin sila ng maayos. We make sure na safe sila, may mga taga-medical, lahat. At saka may mga programs kami na tumutulong kami sa mga nangangailangan para maiwas sila sa mga bisyo, through MMA sports," pahayag naman ni Soriano.
Sa tambalan ng dalawa, higit na napataas ang kalidad ng MMA, habang nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang maliliit na fighters na makaahon mula sa grassroots level.
Sa ikatlong edisyon ng binuong Fight Night nina Soriano at Canavan nitong Abril 14 sa Skydome sa SM North EDSA, itinampok ang pinamahuhusay na local at Korean fighters.
"I'm so happy. All of the fans enjoyed the fight, and all of the fighters will get compensated and that's what we want. We are gonna go every month. We are going to do it. I want everyone to be happy, from the fighters, to the crowd, to everyone involved,” sambit ni Soriano.
Iginiit ni Soriano na nakahanda na ang ilalarga nilang programa na mas malaki at mas kagigiliwan ng MMA fans, gayung may mga bagong investors na nagnanais na maging bahagi ng kanilang layunin na palakasin ang MMA sa bansa
