Co, Araneta ready for YawYan bout on Sat.

THE New Cebu Coliseum will be turned into a virtual gladiatorial Colosseum this Saturday as Kyle “The Hurricane” Co and Mark “The Terminator” Araneta clash in the main bout of the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in the “YawYan Fighting Challenge V: Recompense.”

“This will be a great fight. These two fighters have already proven so many things and it’s time to prove who is the better man,” said YawYan ArDigma Visayas/Mindanao CEO and chief organizer Master Benigno “Ekin” Caniga during the event’s official launching yesterday.

YawYan Fighting Challenge veteran Araneta who sports a 3-1 win-loss record with two knockouts from Team Unified MMA-Mandaue City will be facing the 25-year-old Co of Team YawYan ArDigma Cebu who has a 2-1 record for three rounds in the 140-149lb main event.

Araneta was visibly looking taut yesterday due to drastic weight loss. In his previous fight, Araneta weighted 160lb and yesterday he said he is nearing the 140-149lb agreed weight.

Both fighters, though, refused to  predict  the outcome of their upcoming match but vowed to do their best.

UNDERCARD LINEUP

Meanwhile, Renan “Limbas” Noblefranca of Team YawYan will meet Steve Sevilleno to head the protagonists in the undercard fights.

Caniga’s son Johnlery Caniga (4-1) also of Team YawYan will battle Theodoric “Kid” Batuun from Team Red Dragon MMA of Tagbilaran, Bohol in the 110-119lb pinweight division MMA bout.

Veteran MMA fighter Enjie “The Destroyer” Piloto will also make his ring comeback although this time he will fighting in the kickboxing event instead of in the MMA after losing in a URCC meet early this year. Piloto will fight Arthur “Spartan King” Barba of the Mindanao Unified Martial Arts (MUMA) for three rounds.

Eleven more undercard MMA bouts are also lined up this Saturday night.

YawYan’s Geronimo “Dare Devil” Etac will fight Dexter “The Bull” Mesiona of Team Jr. Grand MMA of Mandaue (120-129lb); Ruel “Akiyama” Resauro from YawYan will face Arnel “Shooter” Ylanan of Team Bullet Fighting System of Mandaue City (flyweight); YawYan’s Keith “Lee” Acapulco vs. Jovanne “Sniper” Javier of Bohol; Joel Zaspa of Talisay City vs. Johnrey Soquite of Team Durex of Lapu-Lapu; Frederick Lim of Team My Gym MMA vs. Enrico Daloata of Team MUMA-Cagayan de Oro; Robert Vargas vs. Ritchie Povadora of Team MUMA; Johnjier Torbiso of Team Durex Dragons-Lapu-Lapu City vs. Rionover Patao of Team MUMA Cagayan de Oro.

Gilmar “Pitbull” Avila of Team Arcomjukai KBC-Mandaue vs. Felix Jagape of Red Dragons-Bohol; Romilo Espra also of Team Arcomjukai KBC Mandaue vs. Jonas Limbaga of Bohol; Joerick Rivera vs. Chito Tajeda and James Joel Serenio vs. Danilo Teves.  /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL