FokaiSaipan:RitesOfPassage

Local faves vs Korean pros in Rites of Passage 8

Trench Tech, Inc. will open its 2010 season with a bang as its initial offering, Rites of Passage 8: Fearless will have Korean pros challenging local favorites.

Trench Tech president and promoter Cuki Alvarez said they will mark the new season with a first, as Korean fighters, Hyun Gyu Lim, “Dr. Kang” Bung Chan Kang, and Young Nam Gu will be making their debut in CNMI MMA via ROP 8. Fearless is slated for Feb. 12 at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort.

“Since we have a big Korean community here, I think this will be a great opportunity for Koreans on Saipan to get more in tuned with the sport of MMA and create new networks and friends,” Alvarez said.

Lim will be facing veteran Slade “The Rage” Adelbai with the former hoping to improve his 5-3-1 win-loss-draw record. The 6’2” Lim holds two TKO wins and one KO. He had a doctor stoppage win against Japanese Noburi Onishi in May, 2008 and another TKO victory over Hiroshi Masabuchi in March of the same year.

Lim’s three other wins were against Brandon Magana in Korea (triangle choke), Lucio Linhares (KO punch) in Russia, and Seong Yeol Ahn (unanimous) in Korea. The Korean Top Team bet lost to Dmitry Samoilov in the U.S. in February last year, Max Fernandez in December 2008, and Greg Soto in 2007. His lone draw was against compatriot Jick Yong Kim in Korea in 2006.

Adelbai also has one draw in his record and holds seven wins and three losses. The Saipan bet’s victories were all via TKO and his victims include John Rasiang, Paul Iginoef, Charles Aiken, Antonio Nekaifes, Joe Rabauliman, Neil Taisacan, and Troy Munoz.

Another local favorite, Fasi “Quikdraw” Jesse will be dueling Kang in a 155-lb. bout. Jesse boasts of a 5-1-0 win-loss-draw slate, absorbing his lone loss at the hands of Guam’s Alex Castro during last month’s Trench Warz 11: Redemption.

Jesse has a better record than Kang, who holds a 3-2-0 mark and only has one win via KO. Kang’s first two wins were in 2006 and his latest was in August, 2008, against Yasayuki Nakamura. His losses were all via TKOs.

In the third Saipan vs. Korea fight, Chris “No Love” Laayug will be pitted against Gu in a 145-lb. bout.

Laayug has a 3-2 win-loss record, dropping his last bout when he bowed (TKO) to Guam’s Jon Delos Reyes in Trench Wars 10: Collision in July. Laayug’s victories were against Kevin Esteves (KO), Derrek Chan (TKO), and Ben Mettao (submission).

Gu holds a 1-2-1 mark, posting his lone win (submission arm-bar) against Young Sun Kim in 2006 in Korea. The Korean fighter will be making his return to the octagon cage after three years of absence.

Meanwhile, Alvarez is calling on all fighters interested in competing in Fearless.

“ROP is an amateur event and is the proving grounds for young up and coming talented fighters who want to take their fighting skills to the next level of MMA competition. Fighters will earn their right to pass onto bigger, more prestigious shows, such as Trench Warz, Fury, and PXC,” Alvarez said.