UFC® MAKES IT DEBUT IN MANILA AS FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDERS FRANKIE EDGAR AND URIJAH FABER HEADLINE HISTORIC EVENT ON MAY 16

Singapore – The UFC^® makes its much anticipated live event debut in Manila when it brings the Octagon^® to the Mall of Arena Asia on Saturday, May 16.  The main event will see former lightweight champion and current No. 1 ranked featherweight mixed martial artist Frankie “The Answer” Edgar face fellow American Urijah “The California Kid” Faber in a five-round featherweight battle at 145 pounds.

At 33, Edgar (17-4-1, fighting out of Toms River, New Jersey, USA) is proving himself to be a force in the 145lb division. Ranked No.1 in the division, the former collegiate wrestler is currently riding a three-fight win streak and looking to get one step closer to another title shot opportunity.

Faber (37-7-0, fighting out of Sacramento, California, USA) will be making his inaugural featherweight debut. The California Kid, currently ranked No.3 in the bantamweight division, has won six of his last seven fights and has never lost a non-title fight. His experience in the Octagon has seen him go the five round championship distance five times against Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Mike Brown and twice against Renan Barao.

Faber comments: “I feel like it’s rare in this sport to have the ability, the opportunity and the fortune of having super fights at multiple weights. I started in this sport because I love it.  I love the challenge and I love to perform.  Fighting a guy like Frankie Edgar is exactly the reason I got into this sport.  I’m a fan of the heart Frankie has as a fighter, something I’m known for as well.  I was a 145 lb. champion and he was a 155 lb. champion so it’s cool for me to be able to make this fight, one for the history books.  I plan on winning and putting on a show in the process.”

Other confirmed bouts for UFC FIGHT NIGHT MANILA: EDGAR vs. FABER include:

• The Philippines own Roldan Sangcha-an (4-1, fighting out of Baguio City, Philippines) will have the Mall of Asia Arena behind him when he takes on skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Jon Delos Reyes (7-4, fighting out of Tamuning, Guam) in a flyweight tilt.
• The Ultimate Fighter China winner Zhang ‘The Warrior’ Lipeng (9-8-1, fighting out Beijing, China) takes on ‘Rajan’ Kajan Johnson (19-12-1, fighting out of Montreal, Canada) in a lightweight clash
• Korea’s ‘Supernatural’ Tae Hyun Bang (17-8, fighting out of Seoul, Korea) takes on rising prospect Jon ‘The Super Saiyan’ Tuck (8-2, fighting out of Hagatna, Guam) in a lightweight fight that highlights two emerging MMA markets in Asia
• In a welterweight bout, Li ‘The Leech’ Jingliang (9-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) takes on The Ultimate Fighter: Edgar vs. Penn veteran Roger ‘Viva’ Zapata (4-1, fighting out of New York, New York)
• Another Ultimate Fighter China steps back in the Octagon when Yao Zhikui (1-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets dynamic Nolan Ticman (4-2, fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) in the debut of both fighters at 125 pounds

UFC Manila will be broadcast all over the world giving the UFC’s international fans a taste of the immense passion and support the Philippines fans have for MMA. Other bouts will be confirmed as they become available.

Tickets will go on-sale on March 13, launched in conjunction with SM Tickets at www.smtickets.com.

For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.