‘The Crank’ is new URCC champion

Frank “The Crank” Camacho is now the new light-heavyweight champion of Universal Reality Combat Championship.

Although the official result and details of the fight were still not immediately available, supporters of the Trench Tech Purebred Saipan fighter disclosed yesterday that Camacho was able to defeat Fritz Rodriguez of Gracie Barra Philippines in the first round of their fight Saturday night at The Arena in San Juan, Manila.

With the win, the 17-year-old mix martial artist keeps his perfect record intact, while improving to 6-0.

The loss was the first for Rodriguez, who now sports a 3-1 win-loss card.

Camacho left for the Philippines last Monday, and was scheduled to return this morning. He was accompanied by trainer Cuki Alvarez and Frank Camacho Sr.

Before leaving, Camacho said he intends represent the Marianas the best he could.

“I’ve been training with the best with Cuki [Alvarez] and Tetsuji Kato…I’m going to go represent the islands because we got a lot of heart and I’m going to show them what we got.”

Aside from training with Kato and Alvarez, Camacho also had his skills tuned by Spike22 Purebred Guam fighters Steve Roberto and Terrence Aflague on Thanksgiving week. during his visit to Guam for the training sessions, Camacho also trained with Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt George Sotiropoulos in preparation for his battle against Rodriguez, who holds a brown belt in jiu jitsu.

Prior to his win over Rodriguez, Camacho’s previous victories were recorded during the four editions of Trench Warz, as well as Spike 22 Fight Night on Guam earlier this year.

Camacho made his MMA debut in November last year when he defeated Bernie “The Shadow of Death” Neth in the inaugural “Trench Warz.” He then returned on February of this year and beat Mike Camacho in “Trench Warz II: Caged In.” He then traveled to Guam for the Spike 22 event, and had a tough fight but won against Ace Mantanona before returning to Saipan and beating Robert Palacios in “Trench Warz III: Commotion.”

On Oct. 28, Camacho fought in a battle of undefeated fighters and kept his perfect record intact, while handing Guam’s Troy Munoz his first loss in “Trench Warz IV: Enter the Octagon.”

He also won a gold medal while representing the CNMI in wrestling in the 6th Micronesian Games.