ANTONIO BATTISTESSA - SPREADING LUTA LIVRE IN BORNEO

12 JULY 2018. The land below the wind, Sabah became the place that witness Coach Antonio Battistessa of Sabah Top Team being awarded Black Belt in Brazilian Luta Livre (BLL). For the uninitiated, BLL is a grappling form of martial arts originated from Brazil. It has similar movement techinques as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The biggest difference is, it is practice & competed without a Gi.

The BLL Black Belt was awarded to him by Master Nicolas Renier. Founder of NR Fight Team. A maestro in grappling art, 2nd Dan BLL Black Belt and a veteran of ADCC.

Master Renier was in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to conduct the BLL Summer Camp and Belt Grading at Sabah Top Team. 

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It has come a long way for Coach Antonio, hailing from Pescara Italy, in his 20s he has competed professionally in Muaythai and MMA in Thailand and Europe; and taught martial arts seminars around South East Asia. He settled down in his wife Gloria's home town of Kota Kinabalu, founded Sabah Top Team and has now fondly called Sabah his home. ( read my previous post on Coach Antonnio )

12 years of training and spreading the art of BLL finally see him earning a Black Belt, Making him the first in Malaysia to achieve this. Coach Antonio has work hard to promote BLL. From his base in Kota Kinabalu, he has coach tirelessly and also travel around Sabah to teach BLL.

He founded Rampage MMA, an amateur MMA competitions and encourages his students to use the techniques learn from BLL in Rampage FC many other regional MMA competitions. His student, Joel Nickolson and Gloria Isabelle made name for themselves in MIMMA season 5, where Joel fought valiantly to reach the semi-finals and Gloria went all the way to the finals to challenge for the championship belt.

Antonio also founded 'Persatuan Brazilian Luta Livre Negeri Sabah' ( Sabah BLL Association ) to further established BLL in Borneo and Malaysia. He is very much supported by his compatriot Afonso Cego, a BLL Black Belt base in Philipine, through BLL Asia Pacific Union.

Since 2016, Antonio has been organising BLL summer camp to spread the knowledge and awareness in Sabah. The summer camp yesterday conducted by Master Renier was the 4th one and more than 20  martial artist took up the seminar to deepen their knowledge of No Gi grappling and submission.

some of the attendees of the 4th BLL Summer Camp

Antonio does not stop there, as right after the summer camp, he will be busy organising another huge BLL event. The 1st BLL Asia Open will be on Saturday 14 JULY, located at Palm Square Centerpoint Mall.

This first ever event in Asia will see kids category under 12 competing. For adults. Women category has 3 weight division competed. Male has 6 weight division. This inaugural event will be graced by the new Sabah state Youth and Sports Minister YB Poon Ming Fung.

Winners will bring home a cool Luta Livre medal....

and sponsored products from MILO

RAMPAGE 4 MMA CHAMPIONSHIP FULL FIGHT CARDS

4 more days to go! This 5 May 2018, Rampage MMA Championship will be held at Sabah Top Team in Plaza Grand Millenium, in Penanpang, Kota Kinabalu.

Rampage MMA was created by Coach Antonio Battistessa, an Italian Muaythai/MMA coach that founded Sabah Top Team; to promote his fight gear brand RAMPAGE.

Coach Antonio with his RAMPAGE fight gear

This amateur MMA championship was organised to give newbies a taste of competition and to keep the interest in MMA alive in Borneo.

In just a year's time, Antonio has managed to organised 3 event. This Saturday will be the 4th edition.

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This 4th edition will see a cards full of new faces across many different countries. A total of 14 bouts will be competed. Check out the fight cards below:

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The main card of the night will see the meeting of two MIMMA veteran. Bryant Tan of Sibu representing Borneo Top Team was MIMMA 4 finalist in 2016. He's also a pro Muaythai fighter. He took a break from competition in 2017 and came back to the scene late last year by winning the Golden Gloves Malaysia in Boxing. ( read about his come back story here )

He beat Tham Yau Kent for the Golden Gloves title. And this Saturday at Rampage 4, they will meet again.

Kent may have lost to Bryant in boxing, but in MMA, Kent is a true veteran. Two times MIMMA semi-finalist, main card fight in Rampage MMA 2, and Jesselton Fight League 1 Heavyweight Champion in 2015.

This fight will be at Catchweight 100kg and expect a explosive fight to close the night.

Rampage 4 MMA Main Card.

CATCHWEIGHT 100kg

Name : Bryant Tan 
Age: 24
Team :  Borneo Top Team ( Sibu, Sarawak )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 183 cm
MMA amateur record : 4-1-0 
Dominant style : Muaythai, Boxing
Pass achievement : MIMMA 2016 Middleweight finalist. Golden Gloves 2017 Champion

Name : Tham Yaw Kent 
Age: 26
Team :  Karabaw ( KK, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 172cm
MMA amateur  record : 4-3-0
Dominant style : Boxing
Pass achievement: Jesselton Fight League 1 MMA H';eavyweight Champion. Golden Gloves 2017 Finalist

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MIDDLEWEIGHT (83.9 kg) 

Name : Amir Aiman Kamaruddin
Age : 28
Team :  Innovation ( Lahad Datu, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 175 cm
MMA amateur record : 2-4-0
Dominant style : Boxing & Luta Livre

Name : Mobby Han 
Age : 30
Team :  MAD Fight Club ( Kuching, Sarawak  )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 173 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Kickboxing

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CATCH WEIGHT (50 kg) WOMAN

Name : Christina Batoon
Age: 22
Team :  Sabah Top Team( KK, Sabah )
Country : Philipines
Height : 155 cm
MMA amateur record : 1-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : MMA & Luta Livre

Name : Colleen Augustin
Age : 19
Team :  Monarchy MMA ( Kuala Lumpur  )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 165 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : All rounder pressure fighter
Pass achievement : 2-0-0 Muaythai, ADCC Grappling champion,  Dumau Champion, COpa de Malasia Champion

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 STRAWWEIGHT (52.2 kg)

Name : Mohd Haikal Hassim
Age: 18
Team :  Innovation ( Lahad Datu, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 168 cm
MMA amateur record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Boxing & Luta Livre
Pass achievement : Boxing

Name : Adriel JJ Wee
Age : 21
Team :  Highlight Reel ( Singapore )
Country : Singapore
Height : 161 cm
MMA amateur  record : 2-0-0
Dominant style : Taichi
Pass achievement : SubZero Grappling Tournament Flyweight Champion

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STRAWWEIGHT (52.2 kg) 

Name : Krittamet Thurakitwong
Age: 18
Team :  Yorky MMA ( Bangkok, Thailand )
Country : Thailand
Height : 174 cm
MMA amateur record : 2-0-0
Dominant style : MMA

Name : Hanafi Md
Age: 21
Team :  Sabah Top Team( KK, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 160 cm
MMA amateur record : 1-0-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : King of the Cage Borneo win

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HEAVYWEIGHT (120 kg) 

Name : Nikolas Sarigus
Age: 28
Team :  Karabaw ( KK, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 168 cm
MMA amateur record : 2-1-0
Dominant style : Boxing
Pass achievement : Jesselton Fight League 1 semi-finalist

Name : Jay Jay James
Age: 29
Team :  Keningau MMA( Keningau, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 163 cm
MMA amateur record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : Copa de Borneo Gold

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CATCHWEIGHT (68 kg) WOMAN

Name : Kaetyng 'Red Arrow' Chin
Age: 28
Team :  Borneo Tribal Squad ( KK, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 159 cm
MMA amateur record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Grappling & Boxing
Pass achievement : Sabah Grappling Quest Blue Belt Absolute Champion

Name : Velleirre Preylla Peter
Age: 22
Team :  Sabah Top Team( KK, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 158 cm
MMA amateur record : 1-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : MMA & Luta Livre

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Name : Glenn Chua
Age : 24
Team :  Highlight Reel ( Singapore )
Country : Singapore
Height : 161 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Taichi

Name : Mohd Hellmi Chieng
Age : 19
Team :  Borneo Top Team ( Sibu, Sarawak )
Country : Malaysia
Height :  172 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : MMA

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 WELTERWEIGHT (77.1 kg) 

Name : Khojaev Jovidon
Age : 19
Team :  Victory MMA ( Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam )
Country : Tajikistan
Height :  183 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : Candidate of Master Sports of Tajikistan. Champion of Tajikistan grappling (youth). 2nd place All Russian Kudo tournament. Champion of St. Petersburg in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.

Name : Mustafa Ibrahim Radi
Age : 
Team :  Monarchy MMA ( Kuala Lumpur  )
Country : Jordan
Height :   cm
MMA amateur  record : 
Dominant style : MMA

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BANTAMWEIGHT (61.2 kg)

Name : Sim Kai Xiong
Age : 21
Team :  Highlight Reel ( Singapore )
Country : Singapore
Height : 170 cm
MMA amateur  record : 4-1-0
Dominant style : Taichi
Pass achievement : Singapore Fighting Championship Featherweight Champion

Name : Naziman Nasipin
Age: 30
Team :  Keningau MMA( Keningau, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 157 cm
MMA amateur record : 2-1-0
Dominant style : MMA
Pass achievement : Rampage FC 1 Bantamweight winner

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FLYWEIGHT (56.7 kg)

Name : Rayyan Amsir

Age: 32

Team :  Innovation ( Lahad Datu, Sabah )

Country : Malaysia

Height : 165 cm

MMA amateur record :0-0-0

Dominant style : Boxing & Luta Livre

Name : Kevin Pengcome

Age: 19

Team :  Yorky MMA  (Bangkok, Thailand )

Country : Thailand

Height : 178 cm

MMA amateur record : 1-1-0

Dominant style : MMA

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FEATHERWEIGHT (65.8 kg)

Name : Ronell Taliban
Age: 30
Team :  Innovation ( Lahad Datu, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 163 cm
MMA amateur record : 0- 0-0
Dominant style : Karate & Luta Livre

Name : Victor Georgesen
Age: 25
Team :  Victory MMA ( Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam )
Country : Denmark
Height : 171 cm
MMA amateur record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Boxing
Pass achievement : Amateur boxing 1-0

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BANTAMWEIGHT (61.2 kg)

Name : Sean Paul
Age: 27
Team :  Sabah Top Team ( KK, Sabah )
Country : 
Height : 166 cm
MMA amateur record : 1-1
Dominant style : Striking
Pass achievement : Muaythai

Name : Terrance Yip
Age : 20
Team :  Highlight Reel ( Singapore )
Country : Singapore
Height : 168 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Taichi
Pass Achievement : Grapple Asia Champion

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 WELTERWEIGHT (77.1 kg) 

Name : Zachenzie Zifyon Douni 
Age: 18
Team :  Keningau MMA( Keningau, Sabah )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 179 cm
MMA amateur record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Striking Stand up
Pass achievement : Kickboxing Gold & Silver

Name : Chai Min Chek
Age : 41
Team :  MAD Fight Club ( Kuching, Sarawak  )
Country : Malaysia
Height : 183 cm
MMA amateur  record : 0-0-0
Dominant style : Kickboxing

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check out the awesome poster design by  Keningau MMA for their fight team, featuring the Murut warrior headgear

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BORNEO KING OF THE CAGE

March 17 2018

There’s a raw vibe to watch fighting in a cage. In the early days of UFC it was label as human cock fighting. The cage was use to give it a very underground, no holds barred kind of feel. The birth of MMA was in a steel cage. But as the sports grow with better safety rulings and proper weight division, fighting in a cage is not something unusual anymore.

Last year in September, Johan Julian the founder of Fight Fest worked with venue owner of A Square Container Night Market to kick-start a new activities there. Cage fighting. A Square is a place where creative street food are serve from container shape kiosk. This venue used to be the popular Ocean Seafood restaurant, which has stopped operation many years ago due to changes in ownership.

Julian organized a cage fighting event named Borneo Battle Arena with Boxing and Muaythai bouts. They placed a steel cage (for cage boxing ) and a ring ( for Muaythai ) inside the hall where the restaurant used to be, which they now named the place The Arena. The idea is to make this place a hub for combat sports. Which fight fans can gather to watch fights and enjoy some good street food at the same time.

This 2nd event on 17 March 2018 was named Borneo King of the Cage. This event is to further promote combat sports in this region, giving newcomer a try to fight in a cage environment.

See the full results below

Borneo KOTC full results

The event was held at night and this time 19 bouts under amateur rules were contested. 9 cage boxing, 6 K1 Kickboxing and 4 MMA. This event was sanctioned by ISKA.

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Wira Boxing - Tawau

In the cage boxing event, out of 9 bouts, Wira Boxing from Tawau dominate with 3 Gold and 1 silver.

Young boxing prospect Hudzaifah Reitz, 22 from Tawau displayed very crisp and highly technical skills to win his match. He knocked down his opponent in finals a number of time until finally the ref stops the match & award the win by TKO. Hudzaifah is a UITM Sarawak graduate in Sports Science. He is now fully focusing on his boxing training.

Coming from a family of boxer where his father, Reitz Jakaria and grandfather, Jakaria Talad were former national boxers.

Hudzaifah is the youngest among his 3 brothers. Since his elder brother focus on their studies and the other one has a sinus problem, he is the only one continuing his family’s legacy in boxing.

He said he learn a lot from his father, not just in Boxing skills but also character building. His father emphasis discipline and humbleness.

Hudzaifah (R)

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In Kickboxing, Borneo Tigers MMA stand out, Liew Teck Seng won his fight in a blistering match at 75kg vs Kyo Kaeda. Liew with his stocky stature was able to connect with many powerful shot to win the fight by decision.

Kyo was a former fighter whom possess exiting style but has been inactive for some time. This was his first competition after a few years of lay off, but it was good to see him back in action and we hope he continue to train and compete.

Liew (R)

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Antonnio and his 3 Gold medalist

Sabah Top Team had a good result in bringing back 3 Gold. They participated in cage boxing, K1 and MMA.

In MMA, a debutant from Sabah Top Team (STT) caught attention of the referee when they did the initial body inspection before fighter enters the cage. Medical team was stunned to see Mohd Hanafi of Sabah Top Team, they discovered that his left feet, the toes and sole are missing. This was because of a motorcycle accident he had some time back. After Coach Antonio of STT assured the officials of his student capability to fight, Hanafi was given the green light to enter the cage.

Hanafi (Blue) 

Hanafi works as an assistant at CKS Supermarket, located just below STT. He was always curious about the training there but was rather shy in asking due to the condition of his feet. But finally he worked up the courage to ask Coach Antonio to teach him. That was only 6 months ago.

Fighting at flyweight, he faced Sylvester from Warmonger Miri. Despite his left feet’s inadequacy, Hanafi does not have a problem with his footwork. It was quite a funny situation when Coach Antonio was shouting instructions to guide him in the fight, but he stared back with a blank expressions on his face; because he does not understand English well. Then he holler back, asking his team to speak in Malay. With the guidance from his corner and the experience of training with Luta Livre grappling skills at Sabah Top Team, he managed to sunk in a standing choke that gave him the victory.

when you willing to work hard, nothing is impossible

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Johan Julian was very happy with the turn out from various gym across Sabah, Labuan, Brunei and Miri for the support they have shown for the event. He mentioned that the event was organized at night to ensure comfort as it is cooler. Crowds that came to enjoy food at A Square also walk in to catch a glimpse of what cage fighting is all about, and this he hopes will raise more awareness for the sports.

This is a great venue to promote the sports due to its central location in KK city. I personally I hoped that the venue owner can put in some effort to upgrade the ventilation of the hall and keep the place cleaner to ensure a win-win situation for all parties especially the visitors.

Deanver Randell (Kinabalu Fighters) - red corner, wins the Cage K1 80kg

Nigel Lakai (Warmonger) - red corner wins the MMA Lightheavyweight

Randell Kadayum (Kinabalu Fighter) wins cage boxing 60kg

Sofie 'Opie'(Tim's Muaythai) - blue corner wins Kickboxing 60kg vs Cindy Tiong (Labuan)

Magdeline (Tomoi Labuan) - blue corner, wins cage boxing female 50kg vs Erliana (Tim's Muaythai)