The “Punisher” Yamit bags Ground and Pound lightweight crown with TKO victory
Veteran Lordy Rey “Punisher” Yamit fulfilled his promise to bag the lightweight title as he won over Mandaue Unified MMA’s Mark “Terminator” Araneta via a second-round technical knockout (TKO) in the main event of the Ground and Pound VI: Invincible fight card last Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The 34-year-old Yamit of the Butuan Mixed Martial Arts proved to be the tougher fighter as he survived a brutal exchange in the first and second rounds to secure the TKO win.
“I promised my coach that we will not go back to Butuan without the [lightweight] belt,” said Yamit. “I kept my promise and I am very happy because I almost quit in the first round after I got hit very hard. But my heart carried me all the way to win this title.”
The opening round saw both fighters connecting on solid punches and kicks with Yamit managing to take down Araneta several times.
But Yamit also absorbed staggering blows from Araneta. In fact, he was almost knocked down after he got hit by Araneta’s straight in the second round.
Both fighters continued their brutal exchange of fists and kicks but Yamit seemed to have landed the more solid shots, which forced Araneta’s corner to stop the fight before the start of the third round.
“This is the toughest fight of my career,” said Yamit.
In the Yawyan Fighting Challenge Bantamweight championship, Yawyan ArDigma Cebu Top Team’s Renan “Limbas” Noblefranca defeated his rival from the Mindanao Unified MMA-Manila Steve “Lightning” Sevilleno in a lopsided rematch.
Noblefranca also won via unanimous decision in his previous encounter with Sevilleno.
Cebu Top Team actually went on to win more fights as four other fighters aside from Noblefranca also emerged victorious.
Kyle “Hurricane” Co got exacted revenge against his fromer tormentor Jonamar “Naruto” Macaraya in their rematch via a TKO in the second round.
Keith “Ice” Acapulco won against Mandaue Unified MMA’s Ryan “Assassin” Salomon via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.
Roel “Akiyama” Rosauro also won over Mindanao Unified MMA’s Israel Gomez via a second round TKO while Lemuel “Musang” Maglinte scored an impressive debut with a second-round TKO win against Parkour Sugbu’s Zoren Pescador.
In the founder vs founder match, SOMA Kick Boxing Club founder Allan “Dancing Man” Epile silenced his rival Ben “Durex Warrior” Torbiso of the Durex Dragons via a sensational second-round knockout.
Rocky Tune “Outlaw” Batolbatol of Mindanao Unified MMA won in an armbar submission over Torbiso’s grandson Johnjier at the 4:49 mark of the opening round.
Romelo “Buffalo” Esfra suffered his second straight loss after he was defeated by Jonathan “Mata De Leo” Esquerdo via an armbar submission at the 2:03 mark of the second round.
Meanwhile, ATC Mandaue’s Kirk “Wild” Florida succumbed to Red Dragon Bohol’s Theodoric Batoon in the opening match via a rear naked choke submission at the 1:07 mark of the first round.
Nelson Navarette bowed to Brian Paciete after a guillotine choke submission and James Roiles lost to Carlo Mabilin of Mindanao Unified MMA via unanimous decision.
