'There will be a knockout' Araneta, Yamit both seek KO win in GNP lightweight title match

CEBU, Philippines -    It's just the first time that they saw each other but there seems to be a brewing animosity between Cebu's hometown pride Mark 'The Terminator' Araneta and Lorde Rey 'The Punisher' Yamit. This was evident when the two ring gladiators exchanged verbal blows during the final press conference of the “Ground and Pound VI: Invincible” yesterday at the Willos Sports Bar along A.S. Fortuna Street in Brgy. Banilad, Mandaue City.

Araneta, the fighting pride of Team UMMA-Mandaue, will go up against Yamit, a submission specialist from Butuan Extreme MMA, for the GNP lightweight championship in the main event of the highly-anticipated MMA showdown this Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Yamit threw the first jab, saying that he came to Cebu with one goal in mind - to capture the belt by all means.

“Expect for war in this fight. I train hard because I have a task to get the belt,” said Yamit. “This fight will not reach five rounds and I guarantee you guys that there will be a knockout.”

Araneta was also in confident mood upon responding to Yamit's brazen remarks. “I will give my best because I prepared hard for this fight and if he said that there will be a knockout, then I am also aiming for a knockout.”

The two protagonists are both hard hitters. Araneta sports a 5-2 win-loss record with all of his wins via stoppage, while Yamit parades a 7-3 cards packed with 5KOs.

The supporting main event is an explosive kickboxing duel between Renan "Limbas" Noblefranca of Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu Top Team and Steve "D' Lightning" Sevilleno of Team MUMMA-Manila in what could be a grudge rematch for the YFCC bantamweight crown.

A historic "Founder vs. Founder" battle is also something to watch out for in the slambang card sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

This as Allan “The Dancing Man” Epile of Soma KBC will go up against long-time rival Ben “Durex Warrior” Torbiso of Durex Dragon KBC in a special bout underneath the explosive double-header topbilling the highly-successful MMA series spearheaded by Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma Founder and CEO Master Benigno "Ekin" R. Caniga, Jr.

Aside from Noblefranca, four other members of the Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu Top Team in Keith 'Ice' Acapulco, Roel 'Akiyama' Rosauro, Lemuel 'Musang' Maglinte and British Cris Thompson 'Lindol' Brooks will also strut their wares against separate foes.

Acapulco will take on Ryan Salomon, Rosauro will mix it up with Israel Gomez, while Maglinte will have his baptism of fire in the MMA world against Zoren Pescador. Brooks, for his part, will square off against Jerry Sabayan.

The rest of the card pits Ronilo 'Buffalo' Esfra of Arcomjukai vs. Jonathan 'Mata De Leo' Esquierdo; Dodong 'Tiger' Jagare of Red Dragon MMA vs. Urtych 'The Machine' Alarin of Butuan Extreme MMA; Nelson 'D Hammer' Navarete vs. Brian Paciete; and Kirk 'Wild' Florida of ATC Club vs. Teoderic 'Kid' Batuon.

Tickets are reasonably priced at P150 for the upper box, P300 for the lower box, P500 for the ringside and P1,000 for the VIP section.

For more inquiries, one may contact 255-8919, 255-1405 or 0932-4524999.—with Lemuel P. Maglinte (FREEMAN)