‘Palaxi’ goes down fighting vs Brazilian foe

Trench Tech’s Giovanni “Palaxi” Sablan pushed Brazilian jujitsu expert Eben “The Jackhammer” Kaneshiro to the limit before suffering a second round loss in the main event of PXC Live IV: Face Off last week in Guam.

Sablan traveled to Guam along with trainer Cuki Alvarez to battle Kaneshiro, who fought out of the Next Generation Fight Club of Stockton, California

The loss dropped Sablan’s record to 9-4 while Kaneshiro improved to 13-3 after losing to Hawaii’s 808 Fight Factory’s Vernon Paringit in PXC XVI: Evolution last month.

Sablan was considered by mixed martial arts fight fans as one of the top fighters in the 145-lb division that can challenge Kaneshiro after beating Guam’s Ryan “The Dentist” Urquizu in the main event of Preba Hao X last December.

Sablan did not disappoint Guam’s MMA fans and fought well against Kaneshiro, who holds a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. He was the aggressor at the start of the fight throwing a barrage of punches and elbows to Kaneshiro’s head and face.

He had the opportunity of ending the fight via stoppage after surprising his opponent with his aggressive fighting style. But Kaneshiro managed to weather the onslaught and managed to inflict a vicious cut on Sablan’s right eyebrow in the final minute of the opening round.

A knee by Kaneshiro caused that cut and the referee had to call a time out to let the fight doctor examine Sablan and administer first aid to stop the bleeding.

After giving the green light for Sablan to continue fighting, the two warriors resumed their attacks at each other as neither fighter did not slowed down before the fight was stopped by the bell that signaled the end of the first round.

Round two began the same way how the fight started as they continued to attack each other and trade blows in an epic brawl. Kaneshiro managed to gain the upperhand and took down Sablan to the ground to work his black belt experience.

Kaneshiro established a top mount and threw an array of hammer fists to Sablan’s face forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight with barley two minutes left in the second round.

“I felt that I was physically and mentally ready for this fight. I train with the best fighters at Trench Tech and although I lost, I know I fought well and was actually happy with my performance. [Kaneshiro] was just the better fighter that night and I’m looking forward to my next big match up against anyone the PXC matches me up with,” said Sablan.

Alvarez said they knew that Sablan’s match up against Kaneshiro would be the toughest. “We knew that [Kaneshiro] will be [Salan’s] toughest opponent. Anytime you fight a [Brazilian jujitsu] black belt, you better be 100 percent focused and prepared, and ready to go to war,” said Alvarez in an email.

He added Sablan trained hard for the fight and has nothing to be ashamed of after giving it his all. “He [ Sablan] fought his heart off and earned [Kaneshiro’s] respect just by stepping into that ring.”