Hawaiian Fight League co-founders Nolan Nobriga and Shayne Pung knew Honokaa was starving for a mixed martial arts event.
Hawaiian Fight League co-founders Nolan Nobriga and Shayne Pung knew Honokaa was starving for a mixed martial arts event.
That’s because both grew up in Honokaa and can’t recall an MMA show ever taking place in the Land of the Cowboys.
Hawaiian Fight League is doing something historic: hosting the first ever MMA card, appropriately called Showdown in Honokaa Town.
It’s a co-production with Honolulu’s Star Elite Cage Fighting, an MMA promotion. And Honokaa’s own Kaeo Meyers holds the SEC welterweight (170 pounds) belt.
Meyers (8-4) was supposed to headline the main event with his SEC belt on the line, but he suffered a knee injury. He won the title in March with a unanimous decision over Jace Kaopua.
His younger brother Mana Meyers (2-0) will fill in and take on Kauai’s Tim Teves (7-3), the SEC lightweight (155) champion, in the main event on Saturday.
“There are so many fighters with a lot of potential in Honokaa, and it’s about time we give them a chance to shine so everyone can see them in action,” Pung said.
Besides Meyers, other Honokaa homegrown fighters are Kris Moniz, Tycio Dela Cruz, and Kapanaia Carvalho, so the roars will reach Hilo and Waimea when they step in the ring.
Part of the proceeds will go to the Big Island Boxing Association, the umbrella organization that regulates amateur boxing.
Hi-Pal, the sports league under the Hawaii county police department, has been trying to bring boxing back. Boxing was last run on the Big Island in 1997.
Nobriga grew up as a cowboy and kickboxer, competing in Toughman shows back in the day. But he never boxed.
“Boxing skipped a whole generation,” Nobriga said. “Our main goal is to bring back Hi-Pal boxing, and we want to build fighters at all different gyms.”
Hawaiian Fight League plans to donate boxing equipment to help start Honokaa Boxing Club, which will be coached by Kaeo Meyers.
The preliminary fights or kids division features a handful of Hawaiian International Boxing Club members, including brothers Wela and Ricky Mamone.
Wela Mamone, a Hilo High senior linebacker, is making his first no-headgear kickboxing debut against Waikoloa’s Kelano Santos, 23, a much older opponent.
Ricky Mamone and his HIBC teammate Tehani Apao will fight for inaugural Hawaiian Fight League kickboxing belts.
In the intriguing co-main event, Russell Mizuguchi is making his pro flyweight (125) debut against Maui Acantilado, who lost to his nemesis two years ago.
As an amateur, Mizuguchi racked up an 8-0 record, and the No. 1 ranking in his weight class, according to tapology.com.
Acantilado went 3-3 as an amateur and suffered a three-round decision loss to Mizuguchi at a Just Scrap card in February 2014.
It’s a critical pro debut for the two Big Island fighters because amateur marks get erased, but pro records are permanent and determine career paths.
Mizuguchi is regarded as the Big Island’s brightest MMA prospect because he’s beaten opponents in every way, usually in quick and entertaining fashion.
He has four knockouts, a submission win, and three decision or endurance victories — the type of profile that catches the eye of MMA big-name promotions (UFC or Bellator).
In another pro match, Honokaa local boy Moniz battles Big Bomber Andrew Sanchis, who has a reputation for coming out swinging for home runs.
It’s a mixed MMA stand-up fight. Both will wear MMA gloves instead of the heavier kickboxing gloves. Ground striking is restricted.
Like a baseball umpire, fight promoters are expected to be impartial (UFC’s Dana White being an exception).
Nobriga won’t be cheering for any hometown Honokaa boys to win, at least not too loudly. But if he does let out a little cowboy pride, it’s because his heart belongs in Honokaa.
“I feel the Honokaa fighters are humble, like Kaeo, and they’ll put up a good fight,” Nobriga said. “Because it’s a small town and I grew up there, I feel that this town needed something special. That’s why we called it Showdown in Honokaa Town. It’ll be a special event.”
Even bigger, Showdown in Honokaa Town will be a historic one, too.
• SEC title fight: Mana Meyers (Honokaa) vs. Tim Teves (Waianae), 155 pounds, MMA
• Co-main: Maui Acantilado (New Tuff Team) vs. Russell Mizuguchi (Boss MMA), 155, MMA
• Andrew Sanchis (AP Boxing) vs. Kris Moniz (Spirit of the White Robe), 205, kickboxing
• Ashton Castro vs. Tycio Dela Cruz (Honokaa), 220, kickboxing
• Jeremy Pereira (KillaBeez) vs. Ryan Tampon (Monstah MMA), 125, MMA
• Kapanaia Carvalho (Hawk Boxing) vs. Matt Majamay, 170, MMA
• Kelano Santos (New Tuff Team) vs. Wela Mamone (HIBC), 160, kickboxing
• Jason Jackson (New Tuff Team) vs. Rylen Waiwaiole (Puna), 185, kickboxing
• Leroy Padilla (AP Boxing) vs. John Ka (Sonny Westbrook Boxing), 170, kickboxing
Kid fights (kickboxing)
• Ricky Mamone (HIBC) vs. Mesi Maae, 110*
• Tehani Apao (HIBC) vs. Raerae Yatsutake, 105*
• KanaleSaunoa (HIBC) vs. Savon Barnard, 75
• Jio Ramos vs. Jordan Maae, 85
• Stanford Mamone (HIBC) vs. TBA
• Kaimana Saunoa (HIBC) vs. TBA
Honokaa fighters in bold
* Title fight for Hawaiian Fight League belt