All set for WSOF's 10 MMA bouts from 11 countries at Araneta Coliseum July 30

A total of 10 bouts featuring 20 fighters from 11 countries make up the World Series of Fighting-Global Championship slated on Saturday (July 30) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Reigning heavyweight champion Evgeny Erokhin defends his title against Richard “The Black Eagle’ Odoms of the U.S. in the main event of the fight card presented by WSOF-GC, considered one of the top five Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotions in the world today.

Erokhin won the heavyweight title in Tokyo, Japan last February with a first round TKO over Brandon Cash. Odom was on hand during the fight, having seen action in the undercard, where he scored a first round knockout of Japanese Yusuke Kawaguchi.

“It’s such a big event. They’re here to make their mark in the Philippine MMA industry,” said Underground Battle/MMA CEO Ferdie Munsayac in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate Tuesday.

Munsayac was joined by Dunessa Hesser and husband Vince, owners of the WSOF-GC, during the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s. Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Mario Sismundo banners the Filipino fighters seeing action in the event that starts at 6 p.m. A dead-ringer of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Sismundo battles Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti of China in the Philippines vs. The World match.

A special four-man tournament that will have the best flyweight fighters in the world is part of the main card, with the winners facing each other for the WSOF-GC flyweight title in a future promotion. First match will have Marcel Adur of Brazil against American Lawrence DiGuilio, while the second contest pits Yusaku Nakamura of Japan opposite Tim Moore of Australia.

A pair of women’s match is also in the card as Jenelyn Olsim stakes her undefeated record against Nayara Hemily of Brazil, while Jujeath Nagaowa clashes with Yuko Kiryu.

“We’ve been all over the world, and the Philippines is a beautiful, great country. There’s great people here, there’s excitement in the fighting industry, and we think we’ll be welcomed here,” said Vince Hesser, whose wife is a Fil-American.

“We really want to make a bang here with a great event.”

Part of that bang will have a lucky audience winning P1 million in prize money.

“No other promotions have even done this before,” said Munsayac. “WSOF-GCis here to make its mark here in the country.”