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PXC 27 highlights 5:24

Baby Joe Taimanglo was awarded the unanimous decision win against Harris Sarmiento in the last fight of PXC 27. Baby Joe was all over Sarmiento for 5 rounds pinning him against the cage landing knees and punches. Taimanglo scored big on a hip toss that put the Hawaii Fighter on his head but couldn’t keep him on the ground. Sarmiento showed why he is the PXC’S 155-pound champion making Joe work for every position and not allowing Taimanglo to take the fight to the ground. The Hawaii Fighter did what he said by keeping the fight standing but didn’t have an answer to Taimanglo’s relentless clinch game. After 5 rounds the Juggernaut Baby Joe Taimanglo finally earned his first MMA Title with the decisive win against a very tough opponent becoming the island’s first 145-pound champion of the PXC.

3:00 PM, Nov. 8, 2011  |

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Mike Carbullido, right, gets his hand raised by the referee after winning a match in the blue-belt division of the 16th US Open BJJ Tournament held Oct. 15-16 in San Jose, Calif. / Photo courtesy of Pete Ulatan

Written by

Kolby Chang

For Pacific Daily News

• Filed Under

• Sports

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Miguel Ayuyu, bottom, secures an armlock on his opponent. / Photo courtesy of Pete Ulatan

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Former Guam residents Miguel Ayuyu and Mike Carbullido continue their climb up the ladder of Brazilian jiu-jitsu as the pair recently notched gold medals at the 16th US Open BJJ Tournament that took place on Oct.15-16 in San Jose, Calif.

Competing as blue belts, Ayuyu placed first in the lightweight division and Carbullido topped the medium heavyweight division. The US Open marked the sixth tournament Carbullido has participated in this year and he does not intend to slow down. His sights now are focused on the World Jiu-jitsu No-Gi Championship set for this weekend in Long Beach.

“I want to make it as far as God is willing to take me,” Carbullido said via email from San Diego.

Ayuyu also is preparing for the no-gi championships and added that BJJ has become an integral part of his life. “I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu for six years now and I’ve worked hard to get where I am [so] quitting now would be the worst decision I could make,” Ayuyu said via email.

Just over a year ago the former Carlson Gracie Jr. Academy students and graduates of George Washington High School decided to relocate to southern California in order to pursue their BJJ dreams.

Multiple tournaments and several gold medals later, it appears as if the move has paid dividends. Ayuyu said regularly training with world champions and high-level BJJ players has taught him a lot about the martial art. “Moving to the states has really brought my game to another level,” Ayuyu said.

In addition to receiving top-notch instruction, the deeper pool of competition and frequency of tournaments allows Carbullido more opportunities to test himself. “I’m able to get [into] big, worldwide tournaments easier with me being out here compared to being on Guam,” Carbullido said. “I’m able to concentrate more and train harder.”

The dreams of BJJ glory, however, do not come to fruition without challenges and trials. When asked what the most difficult aspect of constantly training and competing is, Ayuyu simply said, “Bills.”

Motivation

Carbullido added that it wasn’t easy to leave his family and to pursue his dream, but he knows the rewards are worth it. “I always remind myself of all the sacrifices and dedication I’ve put in over the years,” Carbullido said.

“The fact I can’t be with my family and my sister, the fact I can’t eat red rice and deer keleguan whenever I feel like it. All those reasons push me to never give up no matter the struggle.”

Carbullido thanks his mother Pilar, his sister Mikenna and the rest of his family for their support. He also thanks Gabe Baker, Byron Evaristo, Beachwood/Fleetwood San Diego, Nakama Brand, Apparatus Jiu-jitsu, Cars Plus and the people of Guam.

Ayuyu thanks the people of Guam, as well as Baker and Moya Brand

Fokai Industries makes another go at INternationalMMA

The rollapalooza organizers would like to thank everyone for another positive weekend for Pinoy BJJ!  Up-and-comers from all the major jiu-jitsu teams from the Philippines shared divisions in order to test their techniques for the upcoming 2010 competition season at the Ateneo Martial Arts Center, Ateneo de Manila University Campus.

The featherweight blue/purple division comprised of recent Tokyo Open champion Carlo Pena and Jan Cortez of Atos-VPF, purple belts Richard Lasprilla of Gracie Barra Philippines and Chester Dapo of Josh Russell Jiu Jitsu Canada and 2009 World’s female gold medalist Maybelline Masuda may have been the highlight of the weekends action.

An event designed to both develop the talents of local BJJ practitioners in preparation for international tournaments and strengthen the bonds among the different teams, the grassroots tournament accomplished both again in its 4th edition to great effect.  The whole community has plenty to gain when its members choose to work together the way everyone at the venue did this past weekend.

DAY 1: Gi

Yellow Belt:
G – Eros Baluyot (VPF)
S – Ram Fransisco (Newbreed)

White Belt

Featherweight:
G – Gian Dee (VPF)
S – Eros Baluyot (VPF
B – Pinggoy Danguilan (VPF)
B – Rytz Nunez

Lightweight:
G – Ricky Poblador (VPF)
S – Jose Marie Rodriguez (Davao)
B – Justin Danguilan (VPF)
B – Patrick Gambe (Stanley’s)

MIddleweight:
G – Aldo Vergel de dios (VPF)
S – Rey Joson (Newbreed)
B – Luis Nazareno (VPF)

Cruiserweight:
G – Isaiah Ordiz (Team Paranaque)
S – Sam Santiago (Gracie Barra Phils.)
B – Allen Oblena (Newbreed)

Heavyweight:
G – Matt Jao (VPF)
S – Jan Habana (Gracie Barra Phils.

Blue/Purple Belt:

Featherweight:
G – Jan Cortez (VPF)
S – Carlo Pena (VPF)
B – Richard Lasprilla (Gracie Barra Phils.)

Lightweight:
G – Nestor Ponce (VPF)
S – Raymond Varilla (Gracie Barra Phils.)

Middleweight:
G – Macky Siazon (VPF)
S – Francis Uy (VPF)
B – Kyle Kapunan (Gracie Barra Phils.)

Absolute White:
G – Rey Joson (Newbreed)
S – Luis Nazareno (VPF)
B – Aldo Vergel de Dios (VPF)
B – Patrick Gambe (Stanley’s)

Absolute Blue:
G – Nestor Ponce (VPF)
S – May Masuda (de la Salle BJJ)

Most Technical Fighter Awardee: Gian Dee (VPF)

DAY 2: NO-GI

BASIC

Featherweight:
G – Christian Quismundo (Newbreed)
S – Pinggoy Danguilan (VPF)
B – Chris Caangay (Strike & Shoot)

Lightweight:
G – Jok Gumiran (Submission Sport/VPF)
S – George Vlayee (Yaw-Yan Kampilan
B – Morris Uy (Yaw-Yan Kampilan)

Middleweight:
G – Diego Nepomuceno (Gracie Barra Phils.)
S – Rey Joson (Newbreed)
B – Dit Reyes (VPF)

Cruiserweight:
G – Remand Lazaro (Hybrid Yaw-Yan)
S – Jonz Sandoval (Yaw-Yan Kampilan)
B – Allen Oblena (Newbreed)

ADVANCE

Featherweight:
G – Carlo Pena (VPF)
S – Richard Lasprilla (Gracie Barra Phils.)
B – Eros Baluyot (VPF)

Lightweight:
G – Nestor Ponce (VPF)
S – Martin Tiu (Indepedent)
B – Aldo Vergel de Dios (VPF)

Middleweight:
G – Luis Nazareno (VPF)
S – Francis Uy (VPF)
B – Macky Siazon (VPF)

Absolute Basic:
G – Diego Nepomuceno (Gracie Barra Phils.)
S – Sam Nepomuceno (Gracie Barra Phils.)

Absolute Advance:
G – Richard Lasprilla (Gracie Barra Phils.)
S – Luis Nazareno (VPF)
B – Nino Sanchez (VPF)

Most Technical Fighter Awardee: Diego Nepomuceno (Gracie Barra Phils.)