15 fights slated for ROP 7 tonight

Fifteen action-packed fights are in store for local mixed martial arts enthusiasts in Rites of Passage 7: Fists of Fury set tonight at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort.

Squaring off in the main event will be former PXC heavyweight champion Manny “The Enforcer” Chong against Ton “Peskadot” Robert in a super heavyweight (275 lbs.) match-up for the ages.

Chong comes in the match the more experienced fighter with a 12-6 win-loss card, while Robert so far has had an up-and-down MMA career with his 2-2 record.

The semi main event, meanwhile, has been billed as “Saipan tough guy vs. Japan Shooto’s to-ranked fighter” and will see 130-pounders Jay “Taby” Muna grappling with Jess “The Spiderman” Taitano.

With a record 6-4-2, Taitano is favored against Muna, who comes into the fight sporting a 3-5 slate.

Another fight to watch is the bout between Universal Reality Combat Championship bantamweight titleholder Justin “The Shocker” Cruz and Saipan’s very own Derick “El Peligro” Rangamar. The two will tangle in the 140-lb. division.

The 12 undercard matches are the following:

– Trench Tech’s Gio “Palaxi” Sablan (14 wins, 4 losses) vs. Marianas Elite’s Maitai “The Charger” Charley (2-4) in the 150-lb. weight class;

– Ginaldo “Gago” Aniceto of the Philippines (0-0) debuting against fellow MMA rookie Junjie “Tiger” Choi of China (0-0) in the 130-lb. weight class;

– Louie Crisostomo (independent, 0-1) vs. Tinian’s Johmar Untalan (0-2) in the 150-lb. weight class;

– Trench Tech’s Chris “No Luv” Laayug (4-1) vs. street fighter Kevin Esteves (1-1) in the 140-lb. weight class;

– Trench Tech’s Joe Park (0-0) vs. Pwang’s Eddie Paulis (0-1) in the 125-lb. weight class;

– Trench Tech’s Mark “The Dark” Nuique (2-0) vs. Mesngon Bros.’ Joe Taga (0-0) in the 145-lb. weight class;

– Trench Tech’s Alverick “Pretty Boy” Alvarez (3-0) vs. Haga’s C.J. “Face” Takai (1-4) in the 135-lb. weight class;

– Guam’s Ray “Infimous” Apia (1-0) vs. Mesngon Bros.’ Jun “The Ledgen” Taga (0-1) in the 150-lb. weight class;

– Guam’s Tyler Perrot (0-0) vs. Palau’s Snyder Ongill (0-0) in the in the 215-lb. weight class;

– Fiden Teregeyo (0-1) vs. Lee Reyes (0-1) in the in the 141-lb. weight class;

– Trench Tech’s Slade “The Rage” Adelbai (7-3-1) vs. Guam’s Troy “The Destroyer” Munoz (2-2) in the 190-lb. weight class; and

– Japan’s Joji Matsunaga (1-0) vs. a still unnamed fighter in the in the 160-lb. weight class.

Doors for Rites of Passage 7: Fists of Fury open at 6pm and the fights start at 7pm. Tickets for are sold for $25 and are available at Boarderline, 670 Rocksteady Shop, Hannam Market, Mobil Kagman, Flair bar, and Trench Tech Gym.

For more information on Rites of Passage 7: Fists of Fury or mixed martial arts in general, contact Trenc Tech president Cuki Alvarez at 483-4MMA.