Trench Tech Inc., the pioneer MMA team in the CNMI came up with an official statement in light of the arrests over the past few weeks of some MMA fighters on the island.
Maitai Charley and Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial who were arrested on Friday will be suspended from Trench Tech’s MMA fights indefinitely until the court comes out with the final decision on the cases they are facing, Alvarez said.
Charley and Fitial were arrested based on arrest orders by the Superior Court in connection with two separate incidents involving the two fighters.
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Taking into consideration the difference between being arrested for a crime and being convicted for that crime, Alvarez said “you are innocent until proven guilty.” Nevertheless, he added, the fact is that arrests were made and witnesses were present so what the Trench Tech can do is make them (Charley and Fitial) responsible for their actions.
Because Fitial and Charley were known MMA fighters not only in the CNMI but in the neighboring islands and countries, the MMA family, especially the Trench Tech is now being adversely affected by the news about the troubles the two fighters got themselves into.
Trench Tech, Alvarez said has decided to be “pro-active and take action for their actions.”
How things are going on now with some MMA fighters saddens him, Alvarez said but he maintains, “if you break the law, you pay the price.”
The NMI’s MMA family just has to enforce to the fullest, the zero tolerance on the cage fighters who make trouble in the community or worst, get convicted of crimes.
Trench Tech, Alvarez said has been working closely with the Department of Public Safety on setting strict guidelines and rules for all MMA participants who are involved or are convicted of crimes and violence.
The Trench Tech’s MMA Rules and Regulation states that the organization “reserves the right to refuse any requests to participate in MMA events if you have a pending criminal case or have been convicted of a crime (misdemeanor) and more seriously- a felony.”
Alvarez recalled that since Trench Tech started MMA events with the inaugural Trench Warz 1 Fight Night on Nov. 26, 2005, “we have been practicing what we preach.”
He noted other fighters like Frank “The Crank” Camacho, Jason “Rush” Tarkong, Ken “Kamakazi” Tanzawa, Jeff “Thunder” Cloud, Kato “Tisininia Ketu” or even himself have never been on the front pages too often unless it’s for anti-violence community events.
