Next Trench Tech event set for November

Trench Tech promoter Cuki Alvarez has set Nov. 27 as their second fight event this year after they cancelled last month’s scheduled mixed martial arts bout due to the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor.

Fight fans would have to wait for a few more months before they could watch another Trench Tech mixed martial arts event. (Jon Perez)

Rites of Passage 19: Seek & Destroy was supposed to be held last Aug. 14 at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall but Trench Tech called it off as Saipan was still recovering from the devastation of Soudelor.

“We did have to cancel out our second ROP event that was originally set for August. Due to all the delays this year and the cancellation of the May event we simply had no other option,” Alvarez told Saipan Tribune.

“So this year we will only have two events. With Trench Warz 19: No Holding is set for Nov. 27,” he added.

Alvarez said that though the fight card for 19th edition of the Trench Warz MMA series is still in the works, undefeated reigning 145-lb champion Roman “Boom” Alvarez (5-0) and Ning “Slicer” Cepeda (5-1) are set to climb the cage.

“It [fight card] is still in the making. But we’re looking for an opponent for Boom for his title defense. It will also feature a rematch between Ning and Eric “Gatty” Gatmen (2-0) for the 155-lb title.

Roman Alvarez defeated then defending champion Robert “The Real Deal” Wusstig (4-9) in Trench Warz 18: Rock & Rumble last July 3 also at World Resort to claim the featherweight crown.

Boom only needed 26 seconds in the first round to complete the knockout victory and regain the 145-lb belt for Saipan. Wusstig won the crown against Boom’s cousin, Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez, in Trench Warz 15: Supremacy on Dec. 16, 2011 by split decision.

On the other hand, the Cepeda-Gatmen title bout last July 3 in Trench Warz 18 was declared a no-contest as the scheduled five-rounder ended abruptly on an accidental low blow by the Guam Muay Thai bet.

Gatmen accidentally kicked Cepeda on his groin early in the first round of their lightweight title match.

Gatmen and Cepeda were locked in arms while standing when the former accidentally hit the latter’s groin in an attempt to deliver several knees to his opponent. Cepeda dropped down to the canvass wincing in pain prompting referee Alvarez to immediately step in and stop the fight. The match was declared a no-contest.