Trench Tech Purebred Saipan, the first sports group that popularized MMA on Saipan wants to emphasize that the said sport should not be blamed on the conducts of fighters when they get drunk and run into trouble.
Trench Tech president and promoter Cuki Alvarez said Fitial, one of the top heavy weight MMA fighters and a member of NMI basketball team simply made a bad choice when he got involved in a violent incident last week.
A few days following his arrest, Trench Tech released an official statement saying it intends to suspend Fitial indefinitely from fighting any Trench Tech events until he is proven innocent of the complaint filed against him.
Alcohol, Alvarez said might have been “the driving force” behind Fitial’s actions but since the man is a known MMA fighter on the island “it’s easy to point the finger at MMA as to why he bullies and assaults people.”
Trench Tech do not condone Fitial’s actions, the MMA promoter said adding that it is important to acknowledge the “individuality” of each fighter and avoid “finger-pointing” at MMA people as a whole.
Alvarez said it is irresponsible to blame MMA and all its athletes on the account of a few.
“Why do people dub Kelvin only as an “MMA fighter” and not an “all-star basketball athlete” who represents the CNMI in Micro and South Pacific Games? Is it because it would tarnish his image as an athlete in general?” Alvarez asked.
He said it is easier to point the blame at MMA because it is a fighting sports entity and just the word “fighting” itself makes it easy to do so.
MMA, he reiterated, is a sport, like what basketball is, so he appeals to people to stop blaming MMA for fighting incidents that take place outside the MMA arena.
That’s why it is imperative that each fight gym and martial arts school on island discipline each every members or students, Alvarez explained.
Trench Tech, he said enforces this rule as mandatory and have been doing so since day one of its existence on the island.
“We emphasize the importance of not applying outside, what they learn in the gym unless it’s for self defense and protection of their lives,” Alvarez said.
MMA, he added has done a lot of good for the community and he believes Trench Tech and its team has done its share of good deeds throughout the community and will continue to do so.
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