Yaw-Yan’s Rosauro fights crisis with ‘Hunger Buster’ business

CEBU, Philippines —  He is used to taking down his foes inside the octagon.

Now he wants to take down a different kind of opponent he is facing for the first time in his life - the crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

That is precisely the reason why Cebuano mixed martial artist Roel “Akiyama” Rosauro and his wife Almira decided to put up a food stall business they opened just last Sunday, July 26.

Nestled along V. Albano Street in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City, Rosauro’s “Hunger Buster” venture offers rice and egg meals with patty, tocino, siomai and

tapa toppings. They also sell sisig rice, siopao, burgers and coco delights with pearls.

Just like everyone else, Rosauro said fighters are also highly affected by the current situation that they must find a way to cope up with these hard times.

“Me and my wife realized that we have to do business because we need to find a source of income during this time when all fights are cancelled. We keep on spending without savings so we have to find means to earn money,” said Rosauro.

Inspite of what is going on right now, Rosauro remains focused on his MMA career with hopes that things will get to back to normal one day.

“My plan is to stay as an MMA fighter. I keep on training just in case I’ll be given a fight schedule especially that ONE Championship is set to return starting July 31. If this continues, I really want to achieve my dream to become a champion,”said the pride of Poro, Camotes Island.

Fighting out of the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu under the guidance of Master Benigno “Ekin” R. Caniga Jr., Rosauro holds a 5-3 win-loss record as pro.

After two failed attempts, Rosauro finally nailed that elusive first win in ONE Championship after he beat veteran Indon Yohan Mulia Legowo by decision on the undercard of ONE:A New Tomorrow card last January 10 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. — EBV