PXC eyes four Preba Hao events a year

Pacific Xtreme Combat Preba Hao first rocked Saipan in September, and after a successful showing, the event returned for a second show last Saturday.

According to PXC vice president Eli Monge, the two shows on Saipan have exceeded expectations and that PXC is looking to hold at least four Preba Hao events a year on the island.

“Right now, there are four PXCs on Guam and four Preba Hao’s on Guam. We’re going to add four Preba Hao’s on Saipan, and that way, we could build a cycle for fighters to come out and get a chance to fight in the big event [PXC].

Preba Hao events are used as venues for fighters to prove themselves and earn slots to the PXC.

Monge expressed his satisfaction with the two Saipan Preba Haos, citing that the energy at both events propelled PXC to place Saipan as host of its events.

“I tell you, the turnout was awesome on both shows,” Monge said. “The excitement we see from the people…seriously, I was telling a couple guys when I came back [to Guam] about how excited I am to go to Saipan. There are serious fans there, and the fighters in Saipan…these guys are tough guys. A lot of guys haven’t really been training for a long time, but man they’re tough.”

“The night of the fight…I couldn’t believe it,” Monge said of the Preba Hao in September. “The people of Saipan know about [mix martial arts]. The fighters are warriors, and so two months later, I had to have another show.”

Monge also explained that he saw an improvement from the first Preba Hao to the second.

“The huge improvement and difference in the level of fighting from the first time we went there,” he said. “Some of the guys that fought in the first one, they came back in the second one and look very comfortable in there.”

For the second Preba Hao trip to Saipan, Monge was accompanied by PXC president Joey Calvo, as well as exclusive PXC fighters such as “The Jaugernaut” Baby Joe Taimanglo, Chris Duenas, and Ryan Biggler.

“We brought those guys [Taimanglo, Duenas, and Biggler] to help promote the event,” Monge said.

With all the success of the first two shows, Monge stressed that he believes PXC Preba Hao will be on Saipan for quite a while.

“Honestly, I think it’s going to be here for a long time,” he said. “I know there’s another one on Saipan, Trench Warz, and I think there’s so much room for both and all we have to do is schedule everything where we don’t step on each other’s show.”

“What I see is that it’s a perfect place to find good fighters. I see Saipan as really expanding and I see Saipan as a place to invest to go out there and have these guys showcase their skills and come out to the big show to represent Saipan. I’ve been doing this since 2003 and I never thought about Saipan. Now, I’m saying there’s many tough and talented guys there,” he added.

Monge added that the people of the island have also been very welcoming, which he appreciates.

“Everything on Saipan to me, I mean I don’t live there, but with the economy right now, the people just don’t show they’re in hard times and they’re very nice and outgoing people,” he said.