One title fight, 14 supporting bouts in ROP 19

Derek “Hot Shot” Naog is one of the fighters to be featured in Trench Tech’s Rites of Passage 19: Seek and Destroy as he takes on High Blood Pressure’s Chris Tabligan in a 170-lbs bout on April 22 at the Royal Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort. (Contributed Photo)

Trench Tech will kick off the 2016 season next month with the staging of Rites of Passage 19: Seek and Destroy on April 22 at the Royal Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort.

One title fight, 11 supporting MMA bouts, and three kickboxing matches are featured in Trench Tech’s offerings. The title bout will be an all-Guam affair as Ryan “The Predator” Toves of High Blood Pressure takes on Spike 22’s Rob Wusstig for the lightweight (155lbs) championship belt.

For the kickboxing matches, Trench Tech’s Dicky “Scrappy Doo” Feria will open the night as he challenges Ultimate Martial Arts Guam’s Chris “Karate Hottie” San Nicolas in a 150-lb catch weight. The two other K1 fights will have another Ultimate Martial Arts Guam bet in Jayvin “The Prodigy” Reyes battling Team No Team’s Marc Catindig at 135lb and Trench Tech’s Jordan “Manglona” squaring up anew against Ultimate Martial Arts Guam’s Ethan “Typhoon” Reyes.

Meanwhile, independent fighter Timmy Salas and Taga Tech’s Jonrey “Illest” Gilles will have their debuts at the octagon cage as they collide in the first MMA bout of the night. Up next will be the 125-lb duel between Team No Team’s Noel Sanchez and Ground Fu’s Eric “The Sand Man” Reyes, while the third MMA tiff will have another independent fighter in Vince Torres challenging Guam Muay Thai’s Khalil “K-Nunu” Toves.

Jay “Tabi” Muna will return to MMA when he takes on Ground Fu’s Shane Torres, while Jones Langu of Red Ants Academy will also be back on the eight sides when he faces High Blood Pressure’s Frank Meno in a 155-lb bout. Trench Tech’s “Sloppy” Joe Lee will have the same catch weight (155lbs) when he meets independent fighter Allen “The Samurai” Cepeda, who will have his ROP debut.

Also seeing action in ROP for the first time is Guam Muay Thai’s Justin”Ichi Banger” Quichocho who will go up against Zalaka’s Bradley “Kaboom” Manalo, while the latter’s stablemate Andrew “Top Gun” Sablan will take on Ground Fu’s Juan Lizama.

The last three supporting bouts will have the heavyweights as Hit Shot’s Derek “Hot Shot” Naog duels High Blood Pressure’s Chris Tabligan at 170lbs; Vince “The Big Time” Lujan, also of High Blood Pressure, battles Ultimate Martial Arts’ Camilo “The Beast” Noket at 180lbs; and independent fighter Ryan”Ttrobz” Ngirbabul faces Guam Muay Thai’s Marc “Dos Ekkis” Vidaurri at 205 lbs.

The roster of bouts in ROP 19 is subject to changes, while Trench Tech also named seven standby fighters. The list includes Angel Palacios, Slade Adelbai, Kyle Paulino, Jeff Mesa, Ray Duenas, Vincent Campos, and Roque Martinez.

Tickets for ROP 19 will soon be sold in selected establishments. For more information, contact Cuki Alvarez are 783-4662.