JAYEN IN LEBANON'S CEDAR FC

cover design by Iylia Azri Garewal

Today is Malaysia's national day. Everyone is celebrating a day off from work. Malaysia is also celebrating a record gold medal haul of 145, as yesterday's closing of SEA Games 2017 in Kuala Lumpur saw Malaysia emerged as overall champion.

Meanwhile in a small town name Tamparuli at the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu Sabah; in the acclaimed Karabaw Tamparuli gym, a young 21 year old MMA athlete is still practicing his striking combos on the heavy bag.  His name is Syabtu Aumazza Zaayon Bin Denno Umat, or better known as Jayen.

Jayen is preparing himself for his pro MMA debut. It is certainly a huge giant step for Jayen as tonight he will pack his bags and tomorrow, will travel over 7500 km to Lebanon to fight in CFC - Cedar Fighting Championship. CFC 4 will be featuring many Lebanese fighter vs MMA fighters from all over the world. In the main card is for Superheavyweight, Diab vs Asker

CFC 4 welterweight bout initially planned for Igor Montes of Germany to fight Lebanese star Georges 'The Bulldozer' Eid. But Igor had to pull out a month ago due to injuries. Jayen's head coach Rayner Kinsiong sealed a deal for him to replaces Igor. Jayen is eager to step up and showcase the improvement he has put into his game. Also to show his coaches, especially his Karabaw Tamparuli coach, Vallerio Gumbilai that all the guidance and knowledge they have impart on him will bear fruit.

Jayen with coach Vallerio ( left )

Jayen was an overweight kid growing up. High school time was spend loitering around and hanging out with friends. This really angered his mother whom was at wits and trying to figure out how to help Jayen to be more responsible. After finishing his high school he followed his friends to Karabaw Tamparuli Gym. It was initially just to try out as martial arts was cool to him and his friends.

memories of Jayen's high school days

The step into Karabaw Tamparuli may as well be the best thing that happened to him. He began to come regularly and build a serious interest in martial arts. With no background at all in sports, his mother was doubtful that he will do this seriously and was expecting Jayen to change interest very soon.

Jayen and his Team Karabaw Tamparuli team mates

But day by day, under the watchful eyes of Vallerio, Jayen not only improve on his physically fitness, he picked up techniques and gain more skills. His attitude also change. Hanging out with some of the senior fighters, he began to show better commitment and develop good discipline. It was certainly a positive change that surprise his mother.

Two years ago, Syabtu went for Malaysian Invasion MMA (MIMMA) tryout. he was selected and competed in the heavyweight category. He lost that fight to eventual MIMMA finalist, Tsan Nieng Khai.

vs Tsan in MIMMA 2015

Syabtu didn't stop there, he continued training and joined STAND K1 Kickboxing tournament. He also participated in Labuan's Borneo Amateur Challenge ( BAC ), picking up some wins to improve his amateur record.

Jayen in STAND K1 with coach Vallerio (2nd right) and his Karabaw Tamparuli team mate. Douglas (far right) , Jason Gaban ( 3rd from right)

with founder of BAC - coach Alvin Chong ( 2nd from right) and his Karabaw Tamparuli team mates

Going against Georges Eid will be an uphill battle for Jayen. Georges represent Tristar Gym Lebanon. If that name suddenly ring a bell, well yes that's the same name as Tristar Gym in Montreal Canada. The fame gym under coach Firas Zahabi whom is the head coach for UFC's welterweight legend Geoarges St Pierre. Tristar Lebanon is affiliated to Tristar Canada.

Georges Eid was a former CFC's welterweight title contender and holds a current record of 4-2-0.

Jayen is certainly a huge underdog for this Sunday's CFC's welterweight bout. But opportunity like this does not come often. Jayen's team firmly believe that the best learning experience is to fight at the top level. Thrown into the lion den, the learning curve will be very high.

Jayen fully expect the odds are against him especially fighting a local Lebanese superstar. But he is fully prepared for war and will want to put up a good fight to give a good account of himself.

Warriors of Borneo support Syabtu Aumazza aka Jayen for Cedar Fighting Championship.

Get to Know Your Local Fighter: LESLEY DULAMIT

If you are on the way from Kota Kinabalu to Mt. Kinabalu national park in Sabah, you will pass by the town of Tamparuli. A quaint town of mostly Dusuns population with lots of greenery & beautiful hills surrounding the town. This is also where Team Karabaw Tamparuli gym is located.

Team Karabaw is a local Sabah martial arts & fitness gym founded by Sensei Rayner Kinsiong, ex national karateka & MMA athlete. Team Karabaw has 6 branches in Sabah namely KK, Papar, Keningau, Sipitang, Putatan and Tamparuli.

The Tamparuli branch is led by ex state karateka and also MIMMA alumni, coach Vallerio Gumbilai.
This is also the gym where Lesley Dulamit is training at.

Lesley or fondly known as Guguh by his friends will be among the first few Sabahan debuting as a pro boxer in the much anticipated BoxRanx WBC BoxingFest this 9 July at Midvalley Megamal Convention Center ( read about the pre event write up here ).

Weigh in done, time for war!

Let's get to know Guguh.

Originally from Tuaran, a town 10km away from Tamparuli, his martial arts journey began at 13 when he picked up TaeKwon-Do. This gave him a good foundation but he did not participated in tournament, instead he took part in Track & Field competiitons.

3 years ago, from his late uncle Jay Banding's encouragement, Lesley picked up Boxing by joining TUBA ( Team Tuaran Boxing ). Uncle Jay was an important figure in shaping Lesley's mind and heart as he always gave him support and motivation.

One of his sweetest memories in Boxing was winning the Gold medal in 2015 President Cup.

Lesley (middle in yellow) with Tuaran Boxing Team (TUBA)

Lesley (R) winning bronze medal in his first boxing match in Ranau.  Here with his late uncle Jay Banding (L) and his best friend since childhood Dexter Ales (middle)

Winning Gold in the 2015 President Cup

To further sharpen his skills and keeping himself active, Lesley joined Team Karabaw Tamparuli. He was one of the pioneering students under Coach by Vallerio Gumbilai. Vallerio began to expose and train him in other martial arts, such as Muaythai and grappling.

Team Karabaw sent a huge team to the MIMMA3 tryout in KK in 2015, to expose their students and newcomer to MMA. Lesley was one of them. This exposure gave Lesley a good taste of many aspect of martial arts and also to learn to be composed under pressure as judges eyes are constantly on you.

Lesley (2nd from left) with his brother Ashley (3rd from left) flanked by The Kalai Brothers

In MIMMA3 tryouts

It wasn't his time yet for MMA as he wasn't selected for MIMMA3. To quench his urge for fights, Coach Vallerio enrolled him in Muaythai competition organised by the Youth & Sports Ministry and it proofed to be good investment as Lesley brought back a silver medal.

Victorious in his Muaythai debut

with his brother Ashley Dulamit

Lesley trains regularly but an injury causes him to slow down. After it healed and couple with good conditioning work, Lesley was back to training. In 2016 he again took part in MIMMA4 tryout in KK.

This time he was paired with Muhammad Hasbullah, the 2015 Jesselton Fight League Bantamweight Champion and also his Team Karabaw team mate from Team Karabaw Keningau. Hasbullah brought out the best in Lesley and Lesley was able this time to convinced the judges to select him.

At MIMMA4 tryouts vs Hasbullah

He progressed to the ladder match won it by rear naked choke but lost to fellow Sabahan Joel Nickolson in the quarter-finals.

This year he put his focus on Boxing and began training when he got fight confirmation for WBC Boxing Fest. It's definitely a dream come true for a boxer to compete in a WBC sanctioned event, let alone debuting as a pro.

As head coach, Vallerio began planning carefully for Lesley's training program. Regular sparring session was done with the Tuaran Boxing Team, sparring with Team Karabaw Tamparuli seasoned fighters; lots of pad sessions with Dylon Gumbilai and once a week Team Karabaw head Boxing coach, Ryandell Joe Kitingan will work with Lesley on tactical game plan.

Lesley with Vallerio (R) with Kent Tham (2nd from left) and Ryandell J. Kitingan (L)

with padmaster Dylon Gumbilai

with Team Karabaw Tamparuli

Debuting as a pro this Sunday, Lesley's will be facing another pro debutante, Gerald Salvador. This is a change from his initial opponent, Yuvant Mitadevar. This does not throw off their planning. As Vallerio pointed out that they prepared Lesley to face any opponent. Focusing on Lesley's strength rather than his opponent's style.

Vallerio has been a pillar of strength for Lesley. Lesley has the utmost respect for him. To Lesley, Vallerio is a great charismatic coach that provide him and his team mates plenty of motivation and encouragement.

After each hard session of training, Vallerio always ends it with team briefing and some morale boosting words. This is an important aspect of the fight game where mental preparation is as crucial as the physical part.

Vallerio Gumbilai, Team Karabaw Tamparuli head coach

Most fighters chooses a high tempo and fast music to boost their mood for training. Lots of the time young newbies full of raging adrenaline always goes into a fight with all guns swinging early on but looses steam half-way through the fight. Lesley's way of dealing with this is Raggae music.
He would immerse himself in Raggae and R&B music, during training and before he sleeps. Lesley felt that this type of music calms him down and enable him to think better during fights.

For leisure when he is not in hard training, Lesley love fishing. Rain or shine if the weekend comes he will filled his time fishing. Lesley said fishing teaches him patience and it's also a time for him to do some catch up and strengthen his relationship with his younger brother and girlfriend.

Foodwise, being a genuine Tuaran boy, definitely the famous fried Tuaran noodle ( a locally produce eggy noodle ) is on top of Lesley's  all time favorite.

Accompanying him in this weekend WBC Boxing Fest will be his Karabaw Team mate Tham Yaw Kent, whom will fight semi-pro today.

Lesley (R) at KK Int Airport leaving to KL for WBC Boxing Fest with Ryandell (Middle) and Kent Tham (L)

Lesley vs Gerald will be the 1st pro bout on 9 July 2017

Kent debut in hi semi-pro boxing on 8 July 2017

Warriors of Borneo wishes Lesley Dulamit and Team Karabaw a successful outing this weekend.