RISE OF THE JUGGERNAUT

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by Michael Cruz

The Beginning (2004-2007)

Baby Joe Taimanglo debuted on April 30, 2004 on the undercard of ‘Full Fury Contact Fighting-Tinian’ against T.B. Hardison. He pummeled Hardison by TKO in 3^rd round and into early retirement. His momentum was stalled with a surprising TKO loss to Justin Guzman in the 2^nd round. Justin Guzman surprisingly never fought again. The loss was a lesson for Joe as he improved.

The Juggernaut dealt one TKOand three submissions to his next four opponents at PXC 4-8. Ray Quidachay, Matt Manibusan, Chico Cantiberos, and Albert Manners did not make it out of the first round. Sourikone Nhinsavath lasted the three rounds in losing a decision to Taimanglo at PXC 9. Jimmy Jarquin, a jujitsu champion, provided Baby Joe a test in holding him to his first draw at PXC 10.

Mixed Results (2007-2009)

The knockout lost to Eazel was surprising at PXC 11, but in MMA, anyone can get knocked out. Jesse Taitano settled the score anyway at PXC 12. Joe got back to winning submitting Derrick Rangamar at PXC 13.

Colin MacKenzie was stopped early by Taimanglo’s strikes at PXC 14.

Joe Taimanglo met his old training partner Alex “Most Hated” Castro in the co-main event at PXC 15. The trash talk was legendary between the two camps. There was an altercation between the two at the weigh in. Taimanglo rose to the occasion and submitted Castro in the third round. PXC 16 was Joe’s first main event against Tomonori Tanaguchi. The fight ended in a submission loss to the Japanese fighter. He then jumped at his first chance to fight abroad. He fought in Deep-41 Impact in Japan and lost via submission to Toshiaki Kitada.

Momentum (2009-Present)

Five years into his MMA, career Baby Joe Taimanglo record stood at 9-4-1. The nine-win-streak started with a familiar foe Alex Castro at PXC 18. The rematch lived up to the hype. Castro almost knocked Taimanglo down in the first round with a combination. Taimanglo was able to weather the storm and take down Castro throughout the fight. Joe was able to win a hard fought decision over the dangerous Castro.

The Juggernaut fought in Taiwan and submitted muay thai fighter Per Eklund in 96 seconds at Pro Fighting 3.  He returned to PXC 19 with a submission of Chan Ho Bae. He duplicated another arm triangle choke against Young Nam Gu in the first round at PXC 20.

Joe continued to work on all elements of his game. PXC 22 brought in undefeated Travis Beyer from Hawaii. I remember Joe’s entrance song was Katie Perry’s firework. Beyer had Joe in some serious trouble in the first round. Joe turned the tables and submitted Beyer by ankle lock. The best moment was the PXC announcer grabbing Joe and yelling ‘putting Guam on the @#$%%^ map!’

In May 2011, Baby Joe tried out for the TUF 14 and made it to the final cut. The Juggernaut didn’t waste time and fought in PXC 24 which marked the organizaton’s first show in the Phillipines. Taimanglo made quick work of Young Jun Kim with a rear naked choke submission in the first round. PXC 27 brought Baby Joe his most experienced opponent in Harris Sarmiento. Baby Joe in the main event won a unanimous decision.

From October 2011 to July 2012, Taimanglo spent time training on and off island. He would defend his PXC featherweight title against Korean Top Team’s Yong Jang Kim, the #1 featherweight contender. The buildup was great and even had a great teaser. His last defense ended with a bang. Kim did not make it out of the first minute losing by first round KO. Baby Joe Taimanglo left his mark with 19 PXC fights which is probably the most of all time.

Since then, he has vacated the belt, relocated to California, and won his last fight in Bellator over Ronnie Rodgers.

Pinnacle 

Baby Joe enters the Bellator Featherweight Tournament as Guam’s favorite. The rest of the fight world is unfamiliar with his nearly 10 year mma journey to this point. Guam will be watching Friday at 8:00 p.m. Central or 2:00 p.m. Saturday on Guam. A new journey begins, and that is the road to the Featherweight Championship. Andrew Fisher, be prepared for the Juggernaut has risen.

“All I know is that I put in the hard work in training for this fight so it should show on Friday night! I am taking one fight at a time. And when that time comes I will be prepared for a world title!” – Baby Joe “The Juggernaut” Taimanglo.

Career Videos

Upcoming Fight Predictions:

• September 13, 2013- Legacy Fighting Championships 23 Paulina “Firefox” Granados (2-0) vs. Tessa Simpson (2-1) – Simpson, a 2004 Harvest Christian Graduate and former Guam resident, steps in against the house fighter Granados. Simpson has a brown belt in jujitsu and trains at Austin Kickboxing Academy which she co-owns. Simpson has the edge on the ground and Granados may have the edge standing up. I will pick Simpson to pull the upset by submission. Here is Tessa competing in the Matshark Texas State Championships 2013.

• September 13, 2013- Bellator 99 “The Juggernaut” Baby Joe Taimanglo (18-4-1) vs. Andrew Fisher – Joe’s bout will be televised on Spike as part of the opening round featherweight tournament. The Juggernaut had his best training camp in his career with Alliance MMA. He is currently on a nine fight winning streak. British fighter Fisher is no slouch either with three straight wins by submission. Both fighters have probably watched film on each other. I’m still going to pick the Juggernaut. Baby Joe wins by submission choke.  Here is some tape of Fisher.
  Baby Joe gave some insight of his training camp by saying, “training camp was a blast! This was my best camp I ever had. Every week I felt that I learned something new and I felt that I was improving every week. I love my teammates for pushing me every step of the way!”

• September 14, 2013 – Kyle “Boom” Reyes (3-0) vs. Rolando Dy (3-2) – Here comes the Boom!  I like Reyes in this one.  Elliot Untalan showed the blueprint on how to beat Dy. Reyes from what I’ve seen and heard is one of the best on Guam. He has good stand-up and jujitsu. Dy’s only chance is for a knockout standing up. Reyes has a solid chin. I see Boom taking this to the ground and having his way. Reyes by Submission. Here is some footage of both fighters.

• September 14, 2013 – Mark Striegl (12-0) vs. Jang Yong Kim (6-5-1) – The main event for PXC featherweight title vacated by Baby Joe Taimanglo. Mugen has been impressive in his first two fights in the PXC. He submitted Robert Wusstig and Harris Sarmiento with the Scarf Hold Armlock. Striegl is arguably considered the best pound for pound mma fighter in the PI. He could be the PXC’s next fighter that gets called to the UFC or Bellator. Standing in his way is “The Beast”; Kim is hungry for his second crack at the belt. Kim bounced back from the Juggernaut beat down and submitted prospect Nate Thorell in the 1^st round. Kim should be Striegl’s biggest test in the PXC to date. I’m still picking Mark by knockout in 2^nd round. Watch these two guys beat up on poor Harris.

• September 14, 2013- Ishe Smith (25-5) vs. Carlos Molina (21-5) – The boxing card of the year starts off with two evenly matched. Ishe Smith is a classic boxer and just won the junior middleweight title this past year. He got the title fight because mainly Mayweather promotes him. Molina is just a tough brawler and punches nonstop. Molina has been robbed in fights versus James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I think Molina rises to the occasion and pulls out a split decision over the home town fighter. Here some footage of both guys.

• September 14, 2013 – Danny Garcia (26-0) vs. Lucas Matthysse (34-2) – The two best junior welterweights clash to decide supremacy at this weight class. The winner would also put their name into the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes. Danny Garcia is a boxer-puncher and likes to mix it up. He has a good chin, left hook, and lots of heart. Garcia won the title from Amir Khan and has defended the title numerous times. His opponent is Lucas Matthysse and the man is a pure puncher. He has a solid chin and looks to impose his power all the time. I’m picking Lucas 6^th round TKO stoppage. It will be fun why it lasts. Their two best performances of their careers below.

• September 14, 2013 – Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0) vs. Saul Alvarez (42-0-1) – Like Lebron James we are seeing the greatest athlete of his sport this century. Mayweather is going to make a record 41.5 million plus for this fight. Alvarez will also be pulling in 8 figures, so don’t feel too bad for the 23 year old. I see a competitive fight and Alvarez does have a chance to hurt Money a few times. Floyd though, is too experienced and his chin will get him through. I pick Mayweather seven rounds to five in a decision. Don’t rule out a rematch of these two either later on. Hopefully, Manny Pacquiao can fit into Floyd’s last four fights.  Watch below if you got 152 minutes to spare.

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