‘The Machine’ to pounce on every chance

Jordan “The Machine” Manglona would want to pounce on every opportunity that comes his way whether fighting on home soil or getting the chance to showcase his mixed martial arts skills in Pacific Xtreme Combat.

Jordan “The Machine” Manglona, right, reacts after winning the flyweight title against Ernie Santos of Team High Blood Pressure in Rites of Passage 18: Warpath last July. (Jon Perez)

Manglona, one of Saipan’s promising fighters, is the reigning Trench Tech flyweight champion after beating Guam’s Ernie Santos of Team High Blood Pressure in July’s Rites of Passage 18: Warpath.

“I would work on whatever opportunity that comes my way. Anything that would bring me to the next level,” Manglona told Saipan Tribune. “But yeah, PXC sounds good. If there’s a chance for me, I’ll take it.”

The 19-year-old fighter out of Trench Tech Gym recorded his third straight win after beating Santos (2-1, with 1 knockout) by rear-naked-choke in the 3:59 mark of the first round.

Manglona, who managed to wiggle out of trouble when Santos took him down, patiently waited for the right moment and things to go his favor. He found an opening on Santos’ defense where he sneaked in his arms to lock on his opponent’s neck.

Manglona, who used to run in athletics events, completed the chokehold forcing Santos to tap out.

He made his debut in Trench Warz 17: Night of Champions last December where he lost to former flyweight champion and Trench Tech stablemate Josh “Chaos” Duenas (4-5, with 1 KO).

Duenas, however, was stripped of the title after failing to make weight in his planned defense of the 125-lb belt.

“Winning the title is really an awesome feeling. It makes me want to keep on doing what I do best. I plan to defend it and keep the title on Saipan at all cost,” added Manglona, whose only sport is mixed martial arts.

Manglona said that his Trench Tech Gym stablemates helped and motivated him to further hone his fighting skills.

“It’s hard to explain but I have this wonderful team called Trench Tech Gym. We bonded not only as fighters but also as a family,” said Manglona, who started his MMA training in 2011.

MMA’s strategies and fighting techniques were some of the reasons why Manglona got into the sport. “Watching fights would always seem amazing on television. And all of the strategic perspectives of the sport interests me.”

“I train two to three months when I prepare for a fight. But I would train everyday if I had the chance because sometimes I’m too busy. As much as possible, I always stay in shape,” Manglona ended.