More than 50 sign up for Art of War 9

Lucas Nutting, seen here eyeing his opponent scored a third round-win Tan Taisacan during the Rites of Passage 17 last August, is among the more than 50 fighters who signed up for the Art of War 9. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Trench Tech founder and event organizer Cuki Alvarez said registration is still open and those who wanted to join must give their name and weight and indicate the division are they going to compete in. The tournament fee is $10 per weight division while ticket price is $5.

Each participant can join two or three weight classes provided he will be competing in a higher division. Competition is divided in the Gi and No Gi events with the former an open belt and no weight class battle for the gold.

As of yesterday, the lightweight (146-160lbs.) division has the most number of entries with 16, followed by 11 each in the featherweight (136-145lbs.) and welterweight (161-180lbs.) classes.

The heavyweight (206lbs and up) has nine competitors, while the flyweight (100-125lbs.) and bantamweight (126-135lbs.) categories have seven apiece. Five have signed up in the middleweight (181-205lbs.)

Leading the flyweight competitors are Jimmy Kaipat, Inwon Hwang, Jadrien Camacho, Garry Ray, Allan Aguon, Beng Masga and Lorenzo Attao. Ray and Aguon also joined the bantamweight division along with Josh Duenas, Jordan Mangloña, Joe Duenas and Josh Cruz.

Cousins Shane and Roman Alvarez will join Aguon, Cruz, Josh Duenas, Mark Nuique, Jordan Mangloña, Jones Langu, Daniel Floor, Pinchi Rangamar and Jarome Fujihira in the featherweight division.

Shane and Roman will also contend for the lightweight crown along with Rangamar, Robert Alvarez, Vince Masga, Jasper Van Der Maas, Ko Palacios, Lucas Nutting, Jones Langu, Bradley Palacios, Rich Aldan, Elden Dela Cruz, Renz Benghit, Jun Taitingfong, Jamal Mresbang and Mark Anthony Manalus.

Manalus and Vander Maas also signed up in the welterweight class along with Rey Kim, Kimo Lizama, LJ George, Tyndale Mariur, TJ Castro, Pete Keju, Vince Pua, and Donivan Mendiola.

Castro, Keju, George and Van Der Maas will also vie for the middleweight crown along with Ning Cepeda.

Van Der Maas will be joining his third weight category as he battles for the heavyweight medal against Cepeda, Adam Harris, Slade Adelbai, Tiger Yatsui, Kelvin Fitial, Kier Agda, Joshua Q. Castro and Myron “The Natural” San Nicolas.

Cuki Alvarez is reminding all participants to be honest with their weight. He added they will put up a weighing scale during the tournament to make sure each competitor has entered their correct weight. Those caught cheating will be bumped off in the weight class they signed up for.

For more information, call 670 483-4662, send a message to FACEBOOK.COM/CUKIALVAREZ or Twitter handle @ALVAREZCUKI or visit www.trenchtech.tv. (Jon Perez)