USA’s Chope back on Saipan for ROP 11

American mixed martial arts practitioner Will “The Kill” Chope is hoping his return to Saipan will end in a more positive note compared to the last time he was on island.

The Dragon Muay Thai fighter from Orange Park, Florida fought here last March and lost to Saipan’s Fasi “Quickdraw” Jesse in the third round via head-and-arm triangle choke submission.

Come Sept. 9, Chope will take center stage once more when he takes on fellow lightweight Maitai “The Charger” Charley of Marianas Elite in Rites of Passage 11: Onra.

The Chope-Charley bout will be one of three main event fights Trench Tech Purebred Promotions is featuring for the evening at the Royal Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort.

Chope holds a 2-4 win-loss record and is coming off a unanimous decision victory in the Dare Championship: Dare 1/11 event held a couple months back in Bangkok, Thailand.

Charley (3-7), meanwhile, hopes to bounce back from his loss against Trench Tech’s “Badd” Brad Palacios in June’s Trench Warz 14: Ground Zero. The two battled it out for three exhausting rounds before Palacios won via split decision.

“Charley is a worthy and experienced opponent with a heart of a lion as shown in his last fight,” said Trench Tech president Cuki Alvarez.

Charley trains under the tutelage and guidance of Marianas Elite front man and Pacific Xtreme Combat heavyweight champion Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial.

The other headliners include Jesse taking on USA’s Jonathan Gary of the Reversal Gym’s Yokohama Ground Slam team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in a 155-lb catch-weight bout; and Marianas Elite’s Myron “The Natural” San Nicolas (5-2) taking on Trench Tech’s Mylo “Alabama” Lassiter (2-0) in a super heavyweight pairing.

Jesse holds a 7-3 slate and is going for his third win in a row since March of this year, while Gary boasts 4-1 card and is coming off a second round TKO victory in Japan’s Gladiator 13 held in Tokyo last January.

The 245-lb San Nicolas holds experience and 10 lbs over the undefeated young up-and-comer, but hasn’t fought since November 2009.

Other fights listed on the tentative fight card are the following:

* Trench Tech’s Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez vs. Marianas Elite’s Derrick “El-Peligro” Rangamar in a featherweight MMA title match;

* Dededo Boxing Club-Lights Out Gym’s Gianna “GiaBaby” Sarusal of Guam vs. Trench Tech’s Sheila “Tequila” Sambile in a 130-lb female boxing match;

* Guam Muay Thai’s Justin “Dungka” Dizon vs. Zeng Zung’s Regino Mundo in a K-1 kickboxing match at 150-lbs;

* John Garcia of Guam’s Counter Shot vs. Zalaka’s Jacob Ilo in a K-1 match at 130-lbs;

* Counter Shot’s Jared Santos vs. Haga’s Jordan “Jungle Boy” Ogo in a K-1 match at 120 lbs;

* Counter Shot’s Kevin Miranda vs. Trench Tech’s Josh “Chaos” Duenas in a 135-lb. MMA bout;

* Independent fighter Jason “Ground Maintenance” Teregeyo vs. Zalaka’s Joe Duenas in an MMA bout;

* Zalaka’s Lyle DL Guerrero vs. Roman Cabrera in a 140-lb MMA bout; and

* Zalaka’s Frank “The Tank” Faisao challenging Trench Tech’s Martin “Ningbo Slice” Cepeda in a 200-lb MMA bout.

Trench Tech’s “Badd” Brad Palacios and Zalaka boxer Franklin Agulto are also listed on the card and are awaiting opponents.

As of yesterday, Guahan Top Team’s Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig, Trench Tech’s Mark “The Dark” Nuique, and Vince Masga along with independents Frank Ramangmau and Mike Limiac are listed on standby.

“ROP 11: Onra is dedicated to all the heroes, civilians and soldiers who fight the real wars around the world and is a tribute to their sacrifices,” added Alvarez.

Tickets will be on sale soon at BoarderLine, Hannam Market in San Antonio, The Trap, 670 Rocksteady Shop, and at the Trench Tech Gym in San Antonio. General admission costs just $20 and only $25 for VIP seating.

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