Saipan mixed martial arts fighter Swain “The Pain” Cangco will be featured on the fight card of tonight's Fight Aid charity event held in Tokyo's Shinjuku Face venue.
The purpose of the event is to help support disadvantaged kids in need of dental care.
Cangco is traveling as a last second replacement for Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial who first appeared in the Fight Aid a couple years ago after being invited by promoter, Dr. Kai Takuya, who will also serve as Cangco’s opponent.
Takuya invited Fitial back and requested him to recruit another fighter to be showcased in this year's episode and he chose Cangco to join him on the trip. However, the new enlistee ended up traveling alone as the CNMI standout could not get his passport approved in time.
“I really wanted to be a part of the show again because, for one, it is for a good cause, and two, Dr. Takuya is a really good friend of mine, but things just didn't work out. Still I am happy for Swain and I know he will deliver a good show for the kids,” said Fitial in an interview with the pair yesterday.
Cangco left on a 4pm flight to Tokyo yesterday and is both excited and anxious to get his very first taste of off-island competition.
“I have always wanted a chance to compete off-island and am going to make the most of the opportunity. I want to thank Kelvin for picking me to go in his place and Dr. Takuya for letting me be a part of the show,” said Cangco.
“The Pain” stands 5'6 and weighs in at just over 200 lbs.
He has been studying mixed martial arts under Predator Combat's Muay Thai instructor Ty Durham for five years, but his last fight took place in Gorilla Warfare MMA's Armageddon event back in August 2010, which he won in the first round via TKO over Sully Stone.
Cangco is a longtime friend and training partner of Fitial; he studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing and Muay Thai kickboxing and also enjoys playing softball and basketball in his free time.
The gutsy Cancgo took the fight literally on a two-day notice without any information about his opponent. However he may be facing Takuya himself when it is all said and done.
Upon his return this Saturday, Cangco wants to continue training to perhaps earn a spot on the fight card for Trench Tech Purebred Promotions' Trench Warz 16: Fire Power!, in December.
As one would guess, Takuya is a dentist who studies MMA.
He puts on the charity event every year to raise funds for disadvantaged children in Japan and as part of the initial agreement, is also donating 600 toothbrushes this year to his CNMI guest that will be donated to the Department of Youth Services upon his return on Saturday.
Fitial defeated Takuya the first go around, however, the gracious host has since been training hard in preparation for the upcoming affair.
According to Fitial, the Cangco will be pitted toe-to-toe in a MMA exhibition setting, however there will also be other entertainment-type wrestling matches that feature some popular Japanese wrestlers.
Fitial and Takuya met on Saipan a couple of years ago, while the latter was on holiday.
Takuya was looking for potential fighters at the time to appear in his charity venture, and needless to say, it did not take long for Fitial's name to come up.
They became instant friends and their bond grew even closer during Fitial's first visit to the Land of the Rising Sun.
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