FC BRAWL 4 SPRAWLING SUCCESS PART 2: THE BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS By: James U. Sy Jr.

In the 5th bout, one-kick KO artist Eugene Yunque of Fight Club, 118 lbs., hit 2004 Iloilo National Invitational Wushu Sanshou champion and 2005 Vis-Min Wushu Sanshou champion Dennis Villacrusis of Tribu Hangaway, 120 lbs., with a roundhouse kick to the to the head which caused a cut in Villacrusis’ forehead. The tournament physician stopped the bout at 1:08 of the first round. Yunque earned the distinction of being the first 4 times BRAWL champion (4-0). Villacrusis’ MMA record is down to 0-1. Yunque is best known for his one-roundhouse-kick-to-the-head KO of his highly respected grappler opponent in BRAWL 1.

Former Yaw Yan competitor Joemar Langote of Bertar MMA, 127 lbs., and debuting Romeo Solano of Octagon Martial Arts, 127 lbs., duked it out before Solano finally tapped out at 2:57 of the 1st round due to exhaustion. Langote is now 1-0 while Solano is 0-1.

Former RP no. 7 ranked bantamweight and ex ALA Stable pro boxer Rogelito “Nonoy” Plomeda of Round 1 Boxing Gym, 125 lbs., KOed the smaller BRAWL 2 champion and 2003 La Carlota Kickboxing champion Mark Rojo of Octagon Martial Arts, 117 lbs., with a punch at 2:00 of the first round. Plomeda’s win was the only KO in the event and improved his MMA record to 1-0-1. He is best remembered for his “Suplex vs Punch” bout with Wushu Sanshou champion Andres Villarmia in BRAWL 2, which ended in a draw. Rojo is now 1-3 in MMA fights.

Former RP no. 6 ranked middleweight and 2 times National Amateur western Boxing silver medallist Glen Ventuna of Round 1 Boxing Gym, 124 lbs., mounted and pounded 2 times Western Visayas Wushu Sanshou champion and 2005 RP Wushu Sanshou bronze medallist Andres Villarmia of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main) before the referee stopped the bout at 1:55 of the first round. Ventuna added a 1-0 Mma mark to his 3-0-1 3 KO Western boxing record. Villarmia’s MMA record fell to 1-1-1.

BRAWL 2 champion Elijah Sian of Fight Club, 142 lbs., arm barred debuting 2007 Lee Gralto Regional Wushu Sanshou silver medallist Isaac Ismael Esleyer of Tribu Hangaway, 143 lbs., to submission at 2:23 of the 2nd round. It was Sian ’s 2nmd straight win with an arm bar. He is now 2-1 in MMA while Esleyer is 0-1.

Shotokan Karate yellow belt Ace Tupas of Bertar MMA, 153 lbs., was taken down by debuting grappler Richard Dulaca of Tribu Hangaway, 151 lbs., several times with superior takedown skills. Tupas, however, got even with his swinging punches and at times, successfully defending against the takedowns. Both men fought the longest bout of the event, consuming the regulation 2 5-minute rounds and extending the fight to an extra round before the referee stopped the match at 3:08 of the 3rd round. Tupas was declared the winner with Dulaca fully exhausted. Tupas, the youngest competitor at 16, is now 1-0 while Dulaca is 0-1.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu artist and 2005 URCC Provincial Tour screening champion Luke Mark Catubug of Oriental Negros Top Team, 163 lbs., made up in skill what he lacked in weight when he faced 2004 RP Wushu Sanshou bronze medallist Mark Dodoit of Tribu Hangaway, 192 lbs. Dodoit shoved Catubug to the fence early on in an attempt to take him down. Catubug, however, was relaxed, defended well, and waited before Dodoit was exhausted before finally sinking in a Kimura armlock which forced Dodoit to tap out at 4:01.

Catubug is now 0-1 in BRAWL MMA. Dodoit, who is a Wushu Sanshou artist from the Iloilo Tingan School of Martial Arts Inc. (ITSMAI), is now 0-1 in BRAWL MMA; His Wushu Sanshou mark is 4-2 2 KO. Dodoit, who has punching power, had more chances of knocking out Catubug if he had decided to strike it out with him than going for the takedown.

In the main event, 2 times LGDC Regional Wushu Sanshou champion (2006-2007) Muhamad El Helou Tribu Hangaway, 206 lbs., opened up with a low kick that buckled the leg of grappler and former Karateka Roy Trinidad of Tumbatsu Strikes and Submissions International ( Iloilo ), 180 lbs., and made a quick takedown. Helou and Trinidad tussled for position before Helou got the mount and pounted him with punches. Trinidad tried to bridge to shake his larger opponent off but Helou had superb balance. The referee stopped the bout at 1:12 of the 1st round. Helou is now 1-0 in MMA while Trinidad is 0-1. Trinidad was the only fighter who had a gi on and was the oldest among the fighters.

Officials were Fight Club President Leandro V. Torre (tournament director),
Founder/Chief Instructor Edwin “Bong” J. Tusil of Fight Club, James Emmanuel Infante of Fight Club, and Henried Lamayo of Atleta Judo Club (referees), Master Elmer V. Montoyo and Elmer P. Montoyo Jr. of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), and Head Instructor Joel R. Casiple of Bacolod Consolidated Sports Management Association (judges), John Mercado (emcee), Founder James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. (emcee/record keeper/publicist), Cargeoren Lusabia (timer), Mark Lusabia (octagon crew), and Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad and Dra. Sajah Marie B. Maguad of CMAS (reserve physicians).

Coaches were Wushu Federation of the Philippines Coordinator (Negros Occidental) Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main), Asst. Instructor Glenn Anacleto of Thunder Kick Martial Arts Club-Escalante Chapter (TKMAC-EC), Founder/Chief Instructor Edilberto A. Arcositas of Bertar MMA, Wushu Federation of the Philippines Coordinator (Oriental Negros) Roy R. Flores Sr. of Tribu Hangaway (TH), and Founder/Chief Instructor Carmelino “Jun” Rojo Jr. of Octagon Martial Arts (OMA).

Tournament crews were Arielle, Uychiat, Abby Uychiat, Jan-Jan, and Gian Carlo Alojado (gate), Vince Tan and Alfred Tronco (sounds), and Stephen Sancho and Dagol Montesa (documentation).

Some of the guests include Chester Laquian of Submission Sports Philippines-Bacolod Team, Martin Chua of Team Xanga MMA Gym (TX MMA), Founder Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, Joeffrey S. Deriada, and Moises Nifras Jr. of CMAS, Jimmy T. Lee Kyosanim of PIMAA-FTSDA, Ronilo “Nonoy” Magbanua of Supreme Modern Combat, etc.

FC BRAWL MMA champion Elijah Sian of Fight Club attempting a guillotine choke on 2007 LGDC Regional Wushu Sanshou silver medallist Isaac Ismael Esleyer of Tribu Hangaway during the 9th bout of the Fight Club Bacolod Raw Amateur Warrior's League (BRAWL) 4 "Hunger for Mre" last August 4, 2007 at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center, Bacolod City. Sian won by tapout to an arm bar. (JAMES U. SY JR./CMAS PHOTO)


2 times LGDC Regional Wushu Sanshou champion and Fight Club BRAWL 4 champion Muhammad El Helou (left) with his mentor Roy R. Flores Sr., Founder of Tribu Hangaway, strike a pose after the Fight Club Bacolod Raw Amateur Warrior's League (BRAWL) 4 "Hunger for Mre" last August 4, 2007 at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center, Bacolod City. (JAMES U. SY JR./CMAS PHOTO)