Cebuano Caniga to see action in California MMA tournament

YAWYAN Ardigma Cebu’s Johnlery “Ian” Caniga will be making history as he is set to be the first Cebuano to compete in the annual Navarro’s Mixed Martial Arts Championships on Nov. 5 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Caniga, a BS Criminology student and an athlete scholar of the University of Cebu (UC), will be joined by UC’s martial arts instructor GM Max Caballes and his father, mentor and trainer Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga, the head of YawYan Visayas Mindanao chapter.

“We did not expect that we will be able to compete in San Francisco because we do not have enough budget,” said Caniga during yesterday’s press conference at the YawYan Ardigma Gym. “But we are thankful to UC and Caballes for helping us in giving Ian a chance to showcase his talent to the Americans.”

Johnlery will compete in five different martial arts particularly the grappling, sports grappling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay thai and arnis.

“Salig lang jud ko ni papa (Ekin) ug ni coach Max(Caballes) sa ilang training nako. Buhaton nako ang tanan para makab-ot nako ang pangandoy natong tanan nga makadaog,” said Johnlery.

For Ekin, his son’s chances are bigger in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu since his son is an instructor of this martial art and has already taken down big men during sparring matches here in Cebu.

Around 150 fighters with different nationalities will compete in the one-day tournament.

The three-man team composed of Masters Caballes and Caniga and their fighter Johnlery is expected to depart from Cebu to San Francisco on Oct. 27. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL