‘The Crank’ wins medals in New Jersey

Saipan-trained and native son Frank “The Crank” Camacho won gold and bronze medals in the United States this past weekend, according to an email from Trench Tech Inc. president Justis “Cuki” Alvarez.

The Trench Tech MMA fighter won the gold in the Gi Division of the Grapples’ Quest last Saturday in New Jersey.

Alvarez said over 300 grapplers from across the U.S. mainland as well as from around the world participated in the event.

The fighters competed in the Gi and No Gi divisions and were classified in intermediate and absolute levels of competitions.

Camacho entered in the intermediate level in both classes taking home the gold in the Gi division and bronze in the No Gi division.

“Our hats are off to our young island ambassador. Frank, you make us all proud of your accomplishments and for that we salute you,” Alvarez said in his congratulatory message to Camacho.

“The Crank” will be returning home for the Christmas holidays and will fight in the main event of the upcoming Trench Warz IX: The Annihilation.

He will be up against Marianas Elite’s Syl “The Deal” Teregoyo in a K1 match. The event will be held on Dec. 12 at the Saipan World Resort.

Teregoyo is a standout from Marianas Elite and the current top contender in the welterweight division.

The semi main event will also feature two outstanding local grapplers.

It would be a heavyweight slugfest between Marianas Elite’s Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial and Team Zalazka’s Ton “XCalibur” Nekaifes.

Two months ago, Fitial bagged a gold medal in a tournament in Guam, which he considers his biggest ever as an MMA fighter.

Nekaifes is a 280-lb. heavyhitter.

This event was originally scheduled for Dec. 6 but because the Saipan World Resort is fully booked on that date, organizers decided to move it to Dec. 12 at the Taga Hall of the hotel.

Chris “No Luv” Laayug of Trench Tech will face Leroy Sablan of Marianas Elite in one of the undercards.

Laayug just came off a unanimous decision victory against Derrick “Pinchi’ Rangmar in the main event of the Rites of Passage V last Sept. 27 to improve his record to 4-1.

Sablan is an experienced fighter with a 3-2 record.

“That would be a good fight,” Alvarez said.

Other fighters included in the fight card are Ken “Kamakazi” Tanzawa and Ryan “The Dentist” Urquizu from Guam.

“We plan on ending the year with a bang,” Alvarez said.