Yaw-Yan's Caniga to join MMA tournament in US

CEBU, Philippines - Promising Cebuano martial artist Johnlery “Ian” Caniga will try to put Cebu in the spotlight of Mixed Martial Arts world as he competes in the Navarro’s Mixed Martial Arts Championships - one of the prestigious MMA tournaments in the United States - slated on November 5 in Pacifica, California.

Caniga, proud son of Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma Founder/CEO and Vis-Min director Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga, Jr.,will be the first Cebuano in MMA history to compete in the US against high-caliber foreign opponents.

The 20-year-old Caniga is not new in the field as he is touted as one of the skilled young prospects in MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the country after winning several fights here and in Manila .

In a press conference the other night at the Yaw-Yan ArDigma Headquarters situated at the 4th floor of Coast Pacific Downtown Center along Sanciangko Street, Caniga expressed his readiness and profound gratitude for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that comes his way to fight not only for personal pride but also for national glory.

Caniga will show his wares in the one-day tilt in various disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, grappling, Muay-Thai (kickboxing), wrestling and even arnis.

“Pasalamat ko ani nga chance ug naningkamot gyud ko ron sa akong practice para ma-ready akong kaugalingon kon unsa man ang mga away nga akong atubangon didto sa US ,” said the BS Criminology student from the University of Cebu.

“Salig sad gyud ko ni Ian kay nakita nako ang iyang ensayo. Dako kaayo og chance pero let's just see if pila ka duwa among madaug didto,” said Master Ekin.

Master Ekin and Ian will be joined in their US trip on October 28 by Yaw-Yan ArDigma senior instructor and arnis Grandmaster Max Caballes.

For his part, American MMA patron Frank Navarro said Caniga’s US campaign would be a start of a vision to someday get some elite fighters in Cebu to let them fight in the US.

“Hopefully someday, we can have a new generation of fighters that can follow Ian’s footsteps and maybe we can have four to five fighters especially from Yaw-Yan that we can also bring to compete in the States,” said Navarro. - THE FREEMAN