Trench Tech takes good with bad in 2011

Trench Tech Purebred Promotions had a lot to be thankful for in 2011, but no less than the company’s president Cuki Alvarez admitted that mixed martial arts took a beating from the bad decisions made by a couple of fighters last year.

Alvarez said 2011 marked the year that Trench Tech unveiled its first-ever featherweight title belt, which provided two classic bouts that both went the distance.

The first pairing was between Marianas Elite’s Derrick “El-Peligro” Rangamar (3-10) and Trench Tech’s Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez (7-1) in September’s Rites Of Passage: 11 Onra.

They battled it out for five five-minute rounds with Alvarez receiving the nod with his superior wrestling skills.

Then in mid-December’s Trench Warz 15: Supremacy, Alvarez put his title on the line against Guam’s Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig (3-5) and lost the belt via split decision.

Wusstig’s length gave Alvarez problems on the ground in what turned out to be a technical 25-minute grappling battle for the top position.

Alvarez tried to employ a standup dirty boxing technique from the clinch position with his opponent against the fence, but Wusstig kept wiggling out of it and stuck to his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game plan on the ground.

Rest assured, Cuki Alvarez said, a rematch is in the works between his son and Wusstig in 2012.

He added that he is also happy that Trench Tech has a healthy list of new and up-and-coming fighters, including new heavyweight phenom Mylo “Bam-Bam” Lassiter (4-1), Shane Alvarez, Mark “The Dark” Nuique (7-0), Josh “Chaos” Duenas (2-1), amateur fighter Vince “The Clinch” Masga (2-0), Zalaka’s Joe “Da Combo” Duenas (4-0), and Tinian kickboxer Regino Mundo (4-0) of team Zeng Zung.

Since beginning his career in November 2010, Lassiter racked up three consecutive first round wins before dropping his first bout against South Korea’s Doo Hwan Kim (1-0) in Guam’s Pacific X-Treme Combat 27 event. He, however, bounced back with a decisive win over Guam’s Manny Chong (8-9) in Trench Warz 15.

Lassiter just signed a three-fight deal with PXC along with veteran and teammate Fasi “Quick Draw” Jesse (8-4) and one more Trench Tech fighter is expected to join the duo.

The candidates, in no particular order, include Shane Alvarez, Josh Duenas, Nuique, and Masga.

Notably, following the rematch Jesse is next in line for a shot at the Trench Tech featherweight title, while Lassiter is already set to face undefeated Pete “Big Mac” Miyasaki of Guam in ROP 12: Unstoppable scheduled for March 16.

As for Shane Alvarez, Cuki Alvarez said his son has aspirations of competing off-island and hopes to be in the mainland by next year to work with some pros at the Master Lloyd Irvin MMA Gym in Camp Springs, Maryland.

Meanwhile, Cuki Alvarez said there is not much to say about Nuique other than the soft-spoken young gun is fearless and undefeated in seven fights.

Although Josh Duenas’ stamina came up short in his last outing against Guam’s Josh “The Hedgehog” Alvarez, Cuki Alvarez sees the kid contending for a PXC bantamweight belt within the next two years.

He said 18-year-old Masga is one Trench Tech’s hardest working students and is expected to face off-island competition from Guam in ROP12.

Much like Nuique, Joe Duenas is explosive, aggressive, and has skills.

If all goes well, Alvarez said these two may be featured in a battle of the undefeated fighters in Trench Warz 16 later this year.

Mundo is unbeaten as a K-1 kickboxer and is one of Cuki Alvarez’s leading choices to take on Pacific Games Tae Kwon Do gold medalist Sonny Chargualaf of Guam in Rites of Passage 12.

It was not all roses for MMA in the CNMI, however, as a couple of talented fighters were put on suspension for violating Trench Tech’s personal conduct policy, according to Cuki Alvarez.

He said Giovanni “Palaxi” Sablan (15-8) and “Badd” Brad Palacios (5-3) are suspended indefinitely for separate incidences of criminal behavior.

Palacios is banned from the cage for 2012, while Sablan may never be allowed back if he does not get his act straight. Sablan apparently served his time, but then violated his probation shortly thereafter.

For more information about Trench Tech, call 483-4MMA (4662) or 483-8670.