For diehard mixed martial arts fans, they can give a two-word shout-out in unison that sums up the latest hoedown of legalized violence: Welcome back.
For diehard mixed martial arts fans, they can give a two-word shout-out in unison that sums up the latest hoedown of legalized violence: Welcome back.
It’s been more than three months since the last MMA event — Just Scrap 20 in May at Hilo Afook Chinen Civic Center, which featured Chris “Maverick” Cisneros in the main event. He lost to Nissen Osterneck by technical submission.
Cisneros will fight in front of the locals again at Just Scrap 21 Friday at the Edith Kanakaole Multipurpose Stadium, bringing back old friend “Iron” Mike Aina in one of the co-main events, alongside the Maverick.
Chad “Brahma Bull” Thomas, perhaps Hilo’s most popular MMA combatant, will headline the main event, fighting heavyweight Tinei Sua, who’s from Honolulu’s Hawaii Fighting Arts, and throwing into the octagon three of Hilo’s finest on a single card.
Cisneros is scheduled to knock heads with Javier Torres, of club Syndicate MMA, in a 170-pound welterweight contest.
It’s also a welcome back affair for Iron Mike, who last fought more than three years ago. He won by decision in August 2010 at Just Scrap.
On Just Scrap’s Facebook page, a post on Sept. 10 and 17 has Aina’s opponent as Mike De La Torre, from Arizona’s MMA Lab, in a 155-pound lightweight battle.
Iron Mike, Maverick and Brahma Bull are from Boss MMA, coached by Ross “The Boss” Ebanez and Chad Hao “U Doing,” and run out of BJ Penn’s Training and Fitness Center. The Local Three are all pros and fight for paychecks.
Aina has been out of the MMA business because he’s been busy raising his daughters, Mikaila, 5, and Kaila, 2, with wife Kuulei.
“Most people know me from MMA,” said Aina, who’s 12-6-1-1 (win, loss, tie, no-decision). “That’s a big part of my life since I was 21 years old. It’s a big part of who I am. I stopped competing, but I kept working out with the guys. That’s something I enjoy. I never slowed down. My priorities changed. But now my daughters are older and the older one can take care of herself, and we have a lot of help.
“I’m pretty versatile. I go into a fight with a game plan, but let the fight flow and can go anywhere. I grew up as a boxer, kickboxer, but I’ve developed jiujutsu. But when I get a takedown and go to ground-and-pound, that’s almost unstoppable.”
For the locals, that’s music to their ears, and they can show their appreciation with a two-word shout-out when Iron Mike walks into the octagon for the first time in three years: Welcome back.