Trench Tech to open season in style

Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial, seen here unleashing a kick on Australia’s Benjamin Sosoli during their heavyweight bout in PXC 56 held last month at the University of Guam Calvo Field House, will see action in the Rites of Passage 21: Throwdown on May 26. (Pacific Xtreme Combat Photo)

Trench Tech’s first offering for 2017 is sure worth the long wait, as Rites of Passage 21: Throwdown will feature two MMA stars in the Marianas, a title fight, and an extended list of supporting bouts.

Frank “The Crank” Camacho will see action in the main event of the May 26 competition against Extreme Combat Korea’ Gun Han Park and hopes for a fitting follow-up on his TKO win over the latter’s compatriot Hyun Joo Kim in ROP 20: Conquer in August last year.

Preceding the Camacho-Park lightweight clash is the heavyweight battle between the CNMI’s own Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial and GuamFightClub’ Pete “Big Mac” Miyasaki. The fitter and faster Fitial will go for win No. 2 this year after prevailing against Australia’s Benjamin Sosoli via unanimous decision in their heavyweight bout in PXC 56 held last month at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.

ROP 21: Throwdown will also Fitial’s return to Trench Tech’s event after a seven-year absence. The 33-year-old fight last fought in a Trench Tech-organized competition in 2009 when he defeated Guam’s Manny Chong via TKO in Trench Warz 10: Collision.

For the title fight in next month’s event that will be held at the parking lot of the Marianas Business Plaza, it will be another CNMI vs Guam duel, as Derick “El Peligro” Rangamar of Marianas Elite challenges defending champion Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig of Steel Athletics.

Wusstig hopes to keep the lightweight crown that he defended against Trench Tech’s Stanley Iakopo when he won via rear-naked choke at the 4:22 mark of Round 1 of the main event bout in Trench Warz 20: Full Throttle in December last year. The Guam fighter.

Besides the three highly-anticipated duels, ROP 21: Throwdown will also have 13 other MMA bouts and one kickboxing match—making Trench Tech’s first event of the year one of the longest fight cards here.

Mark “The Dark Nuique” and Peter Rodriguez will collide in the lone kickboxing bout in ROP: 21, while the other supporting MMA fights are as follows: Shane Moore vs Vince Acfalle; Andres Camacho vs Kyle Gumataotao; Garard Quichocho vs Brendon Manglona; John Mendiola vs Austin John King; Austin Petrus vs Patrick Ungcangco; Nick Cruz vs Jerome Fujihira; Joey Boy Crisostomo vs Vince Torres: K.J. Villagomez vs Juan Lizama; LD Ogo vs Torsten Rosser; Sang Hyun Park vs Seay Camacho; Matquipuha Maratita vs Phil David; and Ray Duenas vs Jones Langu.

Also set to see action in one of the MMA bouts in ROP 21 is Kier Agda and Trench Tech is still looking for his opponent in the 160lb catch weight. The organizers also listed standby fighters—Dan Cruz, Deshaun Blas, Chris Redina, and Perry Aldan. All fights are subject to changes.