CHOPE VS PAULE. American fighter Will Chope stakes his Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) interim welterweight championship against Filipino Brian Paule in the main event of "URCC 85: Underdog" at DD Night Club in Quezon City on June 2. This is the first time that the two will battle since their 2017 faceoff. (Contributed photo)
MANILA — American fighter Will Chope stakes his Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) interim welterweight championship against Filipino Brian Paule in the main event of "URCC 85: Underdog" at DD Night Club in Quezon City on June 2.
For Chope, it is more than just a title defense. He is looking for payback for his loss to Paule six years ago.
"It is nice to win against him because I get to avenge my loss to him when we fought in an exhibition match in 2017," said Chope, who boasts a 41-19 record.
Like Chope, Paule has also blossomed in mixed martial arts (MMA) since that bout, now sporting an 8-1 record.
“I will get the interim title from him for sure,” Paule said. “It’s a mission on my part to get the title back for the Filipinos. URCC title is for Filipino fighters. And I want to prove to anyone that I can beat him again.”
URCC, the premier MMA organization in the Philippines, was founded in 2002 by Filipino martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Alvin Aguilar.
In the preliminary fights, Rhyle Lugo meets Richard Lachica in a featherweight bout and Tokartzhy Ushqyn squares off with Dave Morata at lightweight, while the bare-knuckle featherweight division will pit Gerard Sismundo and Dan Ascano.
For the Philippines MMA Federation, Jerald Vellarde clashes against John Vallega at lightweight; Jessa Sarabia collides against Catherine Soria in the women’s strawweight category; Tristan De Mena fights Shidjiroh Delantar at light heavyweight; and for amateur MMA, Paolo Cruz faces Gemil Clarinio at bantamweight. (PNA)
