TEAM Unifed MMA Mandaue’s Mark “The Terminator” Araneta won via technical knockout over YawYan ArDigma Cebu’s Kyle “The Hurricane” Co in the main event of the mixed martial arts of last Saturday’s YawYan Fighting Challenge V held at the Cebu Coliseum.
The 25-year-old Co tried his best to withstand Araneta but the latter was able to land the harder shots for the TKO victory at the three-minute mark of the third round.
Co actually had a chance to defeat Araneta when he almost executed a clean rear-naked choke. But the veteran Araneta was too slippery and managed to break away from Co’s attacks.
It was a sorry loss for the team YawYan ArDigma Cebu since Araneta also defeated one of their fighters in Mark Boyo during the qualifying round last summer via a first round TKO.
“Co obviously showed everything he got,” said YawYan ArDigma Visayas and Mindanao CEO and YFC V chief organizer Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga Jr. “Co is still young. He still has a chance to recover and redeem himself.”
Araneta, meanwhile, earned a seat to the Ground and Pound Series MMA event to be held later this year.
Johnlery “Ian” Caniga, son of Master Ekin Caniga, recovered for Team YawYan ArDigma Cebu after winning over Theoderoc “Kid” Batuun of Team Red Dragons.
Johnlery’s expertise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clearly saved him from a total annihilation against the very aggressive heavy puncher Batuun.
He successfully executed an arm-bar submission at the two-minute mark of round two for the win.
Johnlery’s teammate Renan “Limbas” Noblefranca scored an epic third-round knockout win against Steve “D Lightning” Sevilleno of Team Mindanao Unified MMA.
Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) veteran slugger Engie “The Destroyer” Piloto also staged a lopsided win over Arthur” Spartan King” Barba of the Mindanao Unified MMA via a three-round unanimous decision.
Three other Yaw-Yan ArDigma Cebu stalwarts Ruel “Akiyama” Resauro, Keith “Ice” Acapulco and Geronimo “Daredevil” Etac also came out victorious against their respective foes.
Resauro won via unanimous decision against Arnel Ylanan of Team Bullet Fighting System; Acapulco pummeled Jovanne Javier of Team Red Dragon in the second round; while Etac scored a second-round stoppage against Dexter Mesiona of Team JR Grand MMA. /CORRESPONDENTs DALE G. ROSAL and jonas panerio