Wusstig grabs featherweight title

Guam fighter Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig of Counter Shot MMA dethroned Trench Tech Purebred’s former featherweight champion Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez after winning via split decision their five grueling round bout in the Trench Warz 15: Supremacy last Friday night at the Royal Taga Ballroom of Saipan World Resort.

It was not one of the main event bouts that evening, but both fighters put on a great show worthy of a top billing in the fight card. With the win, Wusstig improved to a 3-5 record and handed Alvarez (7-1) the first loss of his career.

While Alvarez lost the featherweight belt, his teammates fared well in the main event bouts held after the title match.

Trench Tech’s Mylo “Bam Bam” Lassiter got his third win after dominating Guam’s Manny Chong (8-9) of Team Thug Cop in the heavyweight main event finale brawl. Lassiter notched a TKO victory at 2:37 of the first round.

Fasi “Quickdraw” Jesse (8-4) manhandled Marianas Elite’s Mai Tai “The Charger” Charley (3-8) in their featherweight bout, winning by tapout in just 1:07 of the first round.

In the opening round of the title fight, fighters tangled up early. Alvarez managed top position, but was caught in a headlock. They stood back up after Alvarez popped his head out and quickly pressed Wusstig into the fence with a clinch hold and worked another takedown. Fighters traded places as they fought on the ground for top position, but they eventually stood back up and traded some kicks before Alvarez slammed Wusstig to the mat.

Wusstig hung tough, however, and managed top position. Alvarez could not quite sink in his Kimura attempt from the bottom, but he did have top position at the bell. Round 1 ended with Alvarez having only a slight edge.

Then in Round 2, Wusstig rocked Alvarez with a haymaker shot as they came out of their corners, sending the latter’s mouthpiece flying. Wusstig then pounced Alvarez and landed a flurry of strikes before taking his back. Wusstig almost choked him out, but Alvarez was a fierce warrior and refused to tap. Both fighters looked gassed by the bell, but it was all Wusstig in Round 2.

Then in Round 3, Alvarez found an early takedown and it was his turn to fight from the top. He got in some nice strikes, but fighters traded places a few times as they battled for top position. At one point, Wusstig managed to wall crawl with his back against the fence, but Alvarez reverted to his clinch hold and dragged him back down.

From there Alvarez laid on top of Wusstig until the bell. Alvarez and Wusstig then threw a few strikes but there was not much power behind either fighter’s blows as they both appeared winded after all the wrestling.

In Round 4, Alvarez led out with a big punch, slipped, and was lucky to recover with a clinch hold on Wusstig. With Wusstig against the fence, Alvarez worked a takedown and took his back, but the former rolled to the top position and would not let the latter up.

Wusstig held side control and snuck in some good shots. Alvarez tried his best to slip out, but Wusstig held on tight. With one minute left in the round referee Keith Nabors stood them up. Alvarez landed some nice kicks, but Wusstig answered with a big knee to the head. Round 4 went to Wusstig.

So it came down to the last round and Alvarez led out with a combination of punches that were countered well by Wusstig. Alvarez managed to pull Wusstig to the ground, but was caught in another headlock. Alvarez worked top position, but Wusstig went for an arm bar from the bottom. Eventually, Wusstig found his way to the top position and held on for dear life. Alvarez tried for an arm bar from the bottom, but Wusstig dealt out some big kidney shots with his free hand.

When the fight ended, there was a small discrepancy in the judges’ scorecards, but organizers came together and straightened it out. Normally, one has to beat the defending champion via TKO or unanimous decision to steal the title, but Wusstig still won as he was the better fighter Friday night. Even Alvarez acknowledged Wusstig’s performance and they agreed to plan a rematch in the future.

In the heavyweight main event, fighters felt each other out briefly until Lassiter shot and landed a one-legged takedown. He took the top position and worked side control where he reigned down some big strikes causing Chong to cover up.

Then Lassiter hemmed Chong up in the crucifix position and bashed his head with some more big punches causing the quick, but exciting ending. Chong lay dazed on the mat for about 30 seconds, but rose to his feet under his own control.

In the semi-main event, Jesse led out with some leg trip attempts, but Charley’s legs were longer, allowing him to fend them off. Jesse then closed in and landed a huge knee to Charley’s solo-plex, which may have knocked his wind out. Jesse wasted no time and sunk in a rear naked choke from the standing position as Charley’s was leaning back against the fence. Jesse kept the hold in tact and began to pull Charley to the ground, and the later tapped soon after he touched the canvas.

In other results, Zalaka’s Joe “Da Combo” Duenas (2-0) defeated Guam’s Leandro Dalalo of Countershot MMA,via tap out due to a guillotine choke at 2:36 in the first round of their 130-lb bout; Trench Tech’s Vince “The Clinch” Masga (2-0) sunk in a rear naked choke on Marianas Elite’s Danny Agulto at 1:46 in the first round of their 150-lb bout; and Marianas Elite’s Irvin “Da Knucklehead” Saralu defeated Fight Shop’s Dennis Cruz at the two-minute mark of the first round in their 150-lb duel via referee stoppage due to a flurry of strikes from the mount position. Eight other bouts were featured in last Friday’s event and information will be released later this week.

Trench Warz 15: Supremacy was sponsored by Miller-Lite, Docomo Pacific, Budget Rent-A-Car, the Department of Public Health, Century Hotel, Salbahe Brand, Chow It, Choke Chain Athletics, The Trapp, Master Construction, Hagu Next, Sea Horse Inc., Zeng Zung, Boarderline Skate Shop, Power 99, and WRS’s Red Box.