After the Armenian-born Vic Darchinyan defended his title against Tomas Rojas, he now wants a piece of the Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire. In 2007, Donaire scored a huge 5th round knockout that took Darchinyan’s IBF Flyweight belt—the knockout became the same year’s Knockout of the Year. The name Donaire irritates Darchinyan because he thought that the Filipino refused to fight him again.

Donaire, who won five straight title bouts after defeating Darchinyan is now gaining ranks in his division. He displayed class and superb fighting skills against Manuel Vargas, Rafael Concepcion, and Luis Maldonado. After defending his WBA Interim Super Flyweight title against Manuel “Chango” Vargas last February, he showed interest in fighting the angry and raging Darchinyan or the current WBO Bantamweight Champion Fernando Montiel.

Darchinyan, the unorthodox-crouching fighter who also loves pushing his opponent, suffered his second loss against Joseph Agbenko last July 2009 via unanimous decision. The bout is for the WBO Bantamweight title. On March 6, 2010, Darchinyan will fight another inexperienced fighter in the name of Rodrigo Guerrero to defend his Super Flyweight titles. If he dominate the fight, this might be the right time to schedule a bout against Donaire.

Author’s Note: I am now able to write again after coming from a two-month hiatus.

photo courtesy of weeklytimes.com.au

Happy New Year! Another year has passed. Thank you for the sponsors, readers, and followers! This will bot be possible without your help!!

photo courtesy of this site.

Before year 2009 ends, UFC gave another exciting set of fights. Lightweight contenders Kenny Florian and Clay Guida gave their best to prove that they are righteous to be BJ Penn’s next opponent. Florian, who was victimized by the current lightweight champ BJ Penn, started the bout strong. But the more active Guida looked for an opening. The fight went to the ground, Guida cutting Florian. Guida gave Florian a huge problem because of his counters and defense. At the end of the round, Guida was bloodied due to the elbow given by Florian.

The doctor advised that the fight can continue. Guida’s energy didn’t diminish. Florian was connecting and Guida caught a huge hand that made him wobbly. Guida was on the canvass and Florian used his underrated jiu jitsu finishing the fight with a rear naked choke. Florian is now 14-4 while Guida suffered his 11th loss, 25-11.

Frank Mir is back! He’s now in a mission—to get Brock Lesnar title. Cheick Kongo, another top man in the Heavyweight division, wants to beat Mir to have a clear title shot or to be one of the top contenders in the said division. But his quest was stopped by Mir when the former champ scored a huge looping left overhand. He finished Kongo via a superb guillotine choke (I don’t know if we can call it guillotine choke in a half guard). Kongo refused to tap and passed out. Mir improves to 13-4 while Kongo suffered his first loss, 24-6-1.

BJ Penn once again proved that he’s the king in the Lightweight division by outclassing Diego Sanchez. BJ Penn won via TKO due to severe cuts on Sanchez’ forehead and lower lip. Penn immediately scored a right hand that made Sanchez wobbly. Penn continue his strikes but Sanchez recovers. Sanchez tried to take Penn down but he was unsuccessful. BJ Penn dominated the whole fight with his superb striking and kicks and Sanchez failed to take the champion down.

Sanchez was full of determination and he showed that he’s got a huge heart, but BJ was relentless and more accurate. At the final round, Penn threw a sick kick and opened a nasty cut on Sanchez, forehead, he followed it up with a flurry and uppercuts. Referee Herb dean saw the cut and immediately called the physician who called out to stop the fight. Sanchez’ face was a mess. BJ Penn improves to 15-5-1 and inked some UFC records while Sanchez suffered his worst and third defeat, 23-3.
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photo courtesy of UFC

Sunday, four thirty in the morning, my mobile phone alarmed—asking me to wake up and start the day. This is not my usual weekend ride, I do it every Saturday but I did some important things yesterday. The air is cold and sends chill, I smell the Christmas spirit. I ate my ride breakfast—a bowl of rice soup (goto) that provides carbohydrates to fuel me and a cup of coffee for an energy boost. I’ve prepared my hydration pack, bike tools, protective equipment and I decided not to bring any trail food except for my newly-discovered fish-in-can, Century Bangus Fillet.

At the foot and on the top of Cardiac Hill

I bike for almost an hour and 15 kilometers to get to the foot of the so-called Cardiac Hill—one of the steepest hills in Santa Rosa. This is where all the bikers’ journey starts. The climb will devour your strength and breath and your legs will produce lactic acid that will hinder you to climb it. This is called Cardiac Hill because, from its name, it could send you to cardiac arrest if you are not in a very good condition—and I’ve witnessed some incidents. The bikers who conquer it without dismount are those who have strong legs, great stamina, huge lungs and of course a big heart. This is not just a physical game, you really have to have a heart and determination to climb it.

at Website trail (left) and at Coffee Trail (right)

Farm Ville or Farm Town?

I can feel the rays of the sun stinging on my skin and hunger is taking its toll. I have to reach the middle of my journey before I give reward to myself. At Santa Rosa, bikers had given the trails unique names but I forgot some of it. What I have remembered is the Coffee Trail—the trail is in the middle of the coffee plants; Website Trail—the trail is home for different spiders; Duck Trail—because you have to duck due to tall grasses and you have to duck because you can hear gun fire few meters away.

I ate this at the exit of Coffee Trail

I was quite exhausted, I have to rest for a while and load up to continue my journey. I opened a can of Century Bangus Fillet—thanks for the easy open can, and smelled the aroma immediately. This is my first time to eat the Century Bangus Fillet, I think they’ve just recently introduced it to the market. This is not an ordinary Century product—the taste is different from other products. Since bangus (milk fish) is a fresh water fish, it is not as “stenchy” as tuna. You can enjoy it without leaving very stinky smell on your lips or breath. A 56-gram serving of Century Bangus Fillet is packed with 1 gram of carbohydrates and 90 kcal that refueled me; 390 mg of sodium to help me replenish my lost body salt to balance my body’s pH level and to prevent leg cramps. I enjoyed the Century Bangus Fillet, they are right, you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere.

12:20 PM, after a 20 kilometers trip from where I ate, I just got back home and I am looking forward for another weekend ride. I think I have to bring a Century Bangus Fillet every trail ride.

In Las Vegas, Filipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao bagged his seventh divisional title—marking his name on boxing record books as the only boxer who did the said peat. He demolished the Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto via a stoppage on the eleventh round. Referee Kenny Bayles stopped the fight so that Pacquiao will not inflict any more damages. Cotto suffered his second lost and his face was a really mess.

Cotto won the first round, scoring his hard jabs while Pacquiao is still hesitant but he stuck to his gameplan. On the second round, Pacquiao thought that he can endure Cotto’s jab and power and let Cotto taste his arsenal. Using his slick footwork and superb hand-speed, Pacquiao had his confidence. The pound-for-pound king scored an early knockdown on the third round with a right, bringin Cotto down and his gloves on the canvass. The Filipino gained more confidence. Pacquiao also knock Cotto down again in the fourth with a devastating left uppercut. Cotto’s really hurt, lost his composure and wobbly.

Pacquiao enjoyed the fight, scoring using his hand-speed. Cotto didn’t easily give up, he also scored some hard punches but Pacquiao’s speed and volume of punches prevailed. Cotto used his style—the run-and-hit me tactic to score his jabs but Manny didn’t bite it. He paused when Cotto tried to run and scored using his lateral movement. When Cotto cannot defend himself on the eleventh, Bayles interfered to stop the fight. It was the second stoppage of Cotto—first was when his face was massacred by Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao, who holds the precious stones and diamond-laced WBO Welterweight belt, is now 38-3-2 while Cotto suffered his second lost 31-2.

While on Manchester, England, Filipino-American Mixed-Martial Artist Brandon “the Truth” Vera was defeated by the legend of Octagon, Randy “the Natural” Couture. The two fighters knew each other because they trained to be members of USA National Wrestling team. Many fans, even the commentator Joe Rogan, said that the fight must be given to Vera. At the start of the fight, Vera let Couture taste what are on his arsenal. He hurt Couture but the former champ pushed him on the cage, using his old-style. Couture wanted to bring him down but Vera didn’t make it as easy as ABC. The referee re-started the action two times.

Vera was more aggressive on the second round, booes were heard from the crowd because Couture pushed Vera on the fence again. After another re-start, Vera landed a hard kick followed by a knee that put the former champ on the canvass. Vera tried to finish him but he regained his composure. Couture used his veteran moves against the younger opponent—pinning him on the fence and throwing short punches. He used his dirty boxing. Ref Goddard re-started the fighters and Vera scored some of his kicks, then Couture pinned him again on the fence—and did his stuff. Forty-five seconds left when Vera turned the tide, he took down Couture and got the dominant full mount position. Couture break free and the two exchanges flurry when the bout ended.

Vera suffered his 4th loss (11-4) while Randy Couture once again climbed the 105-lb ladder bagging his 17th win (17-10).

photos courtesy of AFP.com and UFC.com