Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday, September 28, 2012

All set for ROP 13: Destiny! tonight

Trench Tech Purebred Promotions' Rites Of Passage 13 Destiny! is set to go down tonight at Saipan World Resort's Royal Taga Ballroom.

A total of 12 mixed martial arts bouts and four K-1 kickboxing exhibitions are tentatively listed on the fight card, which overall includes 11 debut appearances.

ROP 13: Destiny! banners what is expected to be an electric main event between Trench Tech's Ning “Bo-Slice” Cepeda (4-3) and France's Ferid “The Hurricane” Khedder (18-7 with two draws) of Ground-Fu fight team in a 175-180-lb catch weight bout preceded by a pair of regional title brawls.

Cepeda and Khedder as well as featherweight title contenders, Fasi “Quikdraw” Jesse (9-4) and current champion Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig (4-6), of Guam's Countershot MMA team, have been wanting to get at each other for many months, but their previous dates were prolonged due to injuries sustained by Cepeda and Wusstig.

Meanwhile, Trench Tech's bantamweight champ, Mark “The Dark” Nuique (8-1), is looking to bounce back from his first-ever loss, and is in a must-win position as his local title is on the line against Zalaka's Jacob “One Blow” Ilo (1-5).

Marianas Elite's Derrick “El-Peligro” Rangamar (3-12), meanwhile, will take on Trench Tech's Shane “Pika-Boo” Alvarez (7-1) in a featherweight rematch from the very first title brawl, which went the distance.

In addition, four bantamweight matches (135 lbs) will be sprinkled in the mix, which features Trench Tech's Vince “The Clinch” Masga (3-0) against Zalaka's Joe Duenas (4-1); Trench Tech/Tiyan Tough Walkers' Roman “Boom” Alvarez (2-0) tangling with Josh “Oh My Gosh” Cruz (0-3); Lights Out Gym's Kyle Toves, of Guam, taking on Garry Ray, in a double debut; and Saipan independent fighter Ray “Faluwasch” Teregeyo (0-1) versus Lights Out Gym's Derick Padrones (1-3).

Other MMA matchups include Marianas Elite's Vince “Vincsanity” Pua (3-1) lining up across “Shishka” Bob Alvarez (2-0), at 150 lbs; Wusstig's Guahan comrade Joe “Young Blood” Ramirez (3-1), out of Underworld Xtreme, colliding with Team Haga newcomer Travis “Flying Man” Eubanks, at 170 lbs; Trench Tech's Donavin Mendiola debuting against Pwang's Peter “Project K” Keju (0-3) at 160 lbs; and Saipan independent fighter Leo Mendiola squaring off against Tavita independent Kevin Villagomez, at 120 lbs in a double debut.

The K-1 pairings include a featherweight match between Zeng Zung's Regino Mundo (4-1), of Tinian, and Zalaka first-timer Nick Jones at 145 lbs; Zalaka's Jordan Manglona (0-1) squaring off against Trench Tech newcomer Wini Roldan Jr., at 130lbs; Guam Muay Thai first-timer Kyle “300” Martin challenging Trench Tech's Renz “The Intense” Benghit (1-0), at 140 lbs; and Trench Tech's Jomar “Dynamite” Danas clashing with Guam Muay Thai's Jared “The Spartan” Martin in a double debut, also at 140 lbs.

Doors open at 7pm and tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Tha Trapp, Docomo Pacific, Boarderline, or at the door for $20, general admission, or $30 for VIP seating.

Contact Trench Tech's Cuki Alvarez at 483-4MMA (4662) for more information.