Yamit stops Araneta Sportswriter Maglinte wins in Debut

CEBU, Philippines - Lordy Rey “Punisher” Yamit found himself in a bind in the first round, but fought on and fulfilled his promise of taking away the lightweight title in the Ground and Pound VI: Invincible main event via a second round technical knockout against Mark “Terminator” Araneta at the Cebu Coliseum the other night.

Meanwhile, The FREEMAN and Banat News’ Lemuel “Musang” Maglinte had a remarkable debut in mixed martial arts.

His good boy looks proved to be very deceiving as he scored a second round TKO against Parkour Sugbu’s Zoren Pescador.

The main fight turned out to be unpredictable with both Yamit and Araneta exchanging brutal strikes in the opening round.

Yamit took down Araneta several times that annoyed the later resulting for him to connect an illegal elbow strike. Araneta was deducted with a point for such act.

With a bruised ego, Araneta pounced harder and threw in a straight punch in the early goings of the second round that almost knocked Yamit out.

Yamit came back with a vengeance and took Araneta down to the canvass and tamed the Terminator until both fighters stood up and continued their exchange of punches and kicks.

Probably very exhausted after the second round, Araneta just sat down on his corner when the bell signaling the start of third was sounded giving Yamit the win via TKO.

“This is the toughest fight in my career. I promised to my coach earlier that we will not got back to Butuan without the belt so I kept my promise to him. I am so happy right now because I almost quit in the first round after I got hit so hard, but my heart carried me all the way to win this title,” said the 34-year-old Yamit.

In the co-main event, Rocky Tune “Outlaw” Batolbatol of Mindanao Unified MMA won using an armbar submission over Ben “Durex Warrior” Torbiso’s grandson, Johnjier with 4:49 mark of the opening round.

It was such a gloomy day for the entire Durex Dragons squad as besides Johnjier’s loss, Ben Torbiso himself lost his battle against SOMA Kick Boxing Club founder Allan “Dancing Man” Epile in a battle dubbed “Founder Versus Founder.”

Epile won via a sensational second round knock-out.

In the Yawyan Fighting Challenge Bantamweight championship, Yawyan Ardigma’s ace fighter Renan “Limbas” Noblefranca proved that his win during his first encounter with Mindanao Unified MMA-Manila’s Steve Sevilleno way back in 2010 was no fluke after winning anew via unanimous decision.

Cebu’s Top Team formed by Yawyan Ardigma master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga, Jr. won all their six matches.

Aside from Noblefranca and Maglinte, Kyle “Hurricane” Co, Keith “Ice” Acapulco, Roel Rosauro, and Cris Thompson “Lindol” Brooks also won their respective assignments.

Co avenged his loss to Jonamar “Naruto” Macaraya through a ground and pound TKO in the second round.

Acapulco beat Mandaue’s Ryan “Assassin” Salomon via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.

Rosauro won over Mindanao Unified MMA’s Israel Gomez via a second round TKO while heavyweight Cris Thompson “Lindol” Brooks from United Kingdom had a no-sweat debut win with Jerry Sabayan of Red Dragon MMA of Bohol, who did not show up.

For Cebu’s first sportswriter-MMA fighter, Maglinte, it was the training in preparation for the fight that is more difficult than the actual battle.

If another opportunity comes along, he said he will not turn it down.

The other action saw ATC Mandaue’s Kirk “Wild” Florida bowing to Red Dragon Bohol’s Theodoric Batoon via a rear naked choke submission at 1:07 mark of the first round while Nelson Navarette lost to Brian Paciete after a guillotine choke submission as James Roiles lost to Carlo Mabilin of Mindanao Unified MMA via unanimous decision and Romelo “Buffalo” Esfra earning his second straight loss following an armbar submission to Jonathan “Mata De Leo” Esquerdo at 2:03  in the second round. — THE FREEMAN