UFC sets May 2009 event in RP

Good news to all Ultimate Fighting Championship. International mixed martial arts fighters such as Brandon "The Truth" Vera are among the big stars of the UFC who may see action once it sets up a major event in the Philippines by May 2009. Vera is half-Filipino and he has been to the Philippines a number of times.

Lorenzo Fertitta, chairman and chief executive of Zuffa, LLC, the UFC's parent company and two-time light heavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell faced the sports media Monday to welcome the arrival of the UFC in the Philippines.

Aside from the possibility of bringing in Vera, the UFC boss said that it would be a little early to name the fighters who will be coming.

He added that UFC and Philippine partner ABS-CBN are working on the details of the event.

Fertitta said they at the UFC want to gather top fighters from around the world and bring them in for a big event in the Philippines, a country that has a growing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community.