Seven years ago, B.J. Penn coached opposite Jens Pulver on the Ultimate Fighter reality show as a way to debut a new lightweight division in the UFC.
Much has changed since that era, which spawned a new generation of fighters from Hawaii trying to make a name for themselves on the sport’s biggest stage.
Four of the nine UFC fighters born in Hawaii compete this week, with Kailua’s Travis Browne headlining the UFC on Fox 11 event on Saturday opposite Fabricio Werdum.
The winner is expected to earn a heavyweight title shot against Cain Velasquez later this year. Should Browne win, he’d be the first fighter from Hawaii not named Penn to compete for a UFC world title.
While Penn prepares for a summer fight against Frankie Edgar in his 145-pound debut, another Hilo fighter, Brad Tavares, is on the cusp of elevating himself into title contention in the middleweight division.
Tavares, who now resides in Las Vegas, takes on Yoel Romero Palacio on Saturday in the first fight aired on local Fox affiliate KHON2 in Hawaii.
Tavares has fought on the main card of other UFC events, but never on one expected to reach an audience like Saturday’s card on network television.
"Hands down this is the biggest fight and biggest placement for me on a card," Tavares said. "I’ve got five wins in a row now, but they’ve all come by decision. Hopefully a knockout win or a submission win will boost me."
Born on Oahu but raised in Hilo, Tavares is sometimes lost among the contingent of local fighters now competing in the UFC.
He says he spends half of the year in the islands, mostly to be with his girlfriend, but has had to sacrifice in order to make fighting a professional job worth keeping.
"It kills me to be away because Hawaii is my home and where I’ll always want to be," he said. "I moved to Vegas because I wanted to fight and I thought it would help my career and it has."
Tavares’ first fight in the UFC was in 2010, which he won by decision over Seth Baczynski.
He’s won seven of his eight bouts in the Octagon and is now on the cusp of becoming a serious contender in the middleweight division.
"If I can keep winning, which I know I will, then there is no way the UFC can deny me," Tavares said. "If I keep winning, then I can’t see myself not fighting for the title."
A busy week in local MMA begins Wednesday night, when Honolulu’s Dustin Kimura and Kailua-Kona’s K.J. Noons compete on the Ultimate Fighter finale show in Canada, shown live on Fox Sports 1.
TRAVIS BROWNE
Hometown: Kailua
Record: 16-1-1 (7-1-1 UFC)
Class: Heavyweight
Next fight: Saturday vs. Fabricio Werdum
Notes: Browne headlines the UFC on Fox 11 card in Orlando, Fla., against Werdum with the winner getting a UFC heavyweight title shot against Cain Velasquez. The fight will be shown on KHON2 (Oceanic Ch. 3/1003).
MAX HOLLOWAY
Hometown: Waianae
Record: 8-3 (4-3 UFC)
Class: Featherweight
Next fight: April 26 vs. Andre Fili
Notes: Holloway fights on the undercard of the UFC 172 pay-per-view in Baltimore, headlined by Jon Jones against Glover Teixeira, against Fili, who is 13-1.
DUSTIN KIMURA
Hometown: Honolulu
Record: 11-1 (2-1 UFC)
Class: Bantamweight
Next fight: Wednesday vs. George Roop
Notes: Kimura is coming off an impressive first-round submission victory and will fight in the first televised preliminary bout of The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale card on Fox Sports 1 on Wednesday.
YANCY MEDEIROS
Hometown: Waianae
Record: 9-1 (1-1 UFC)
Class: Lightweight
Next fight: April 26 vs. Joe Ellenberger
Notes: Medeiros won twice in StrikeForce but had his career put on hold while the UFC acquired the company. His only loss came when he suffered a freak thumb injury. He will fight on the undercard of the UFC 172 pay-per-view in Baltimore.
K.J. NOONS
Hometown: Kailua-Kona
Record: 12-7 (1-1 UFC)
Class: Lightweight
Next fight: Wednesday vs. Sam Stout
Notes: The former EliteXC lightweight champion, who owns a win over Nick Diaz, will fight in the last preliminary bout of Wednesday’s Ultimate Fighter finale show televised on Fox Sports 1.
B.J. PENN
Hometown: Hilo
Record: 16-9-2 (12-8-2 UFC)
Class: Featherweight
Next fight: July 6 vs. Frankie Edgar
Notes: Penn will return to coach opposite Frankie Edgar on the next season of the Ultimate Fighter reality show, culminating in a main event spot on The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale show on Fox Sports 1. It will be Penn’s first UFC fight at 145 pounds.
LOUIS SMOLKA
Hometown: Waipahu
Record: 7-0 (1-0 UFC)
Class: Flyweight
Next fight: May 10 vs. Chris Cariaso
Notes: Smolka debuted in the UFC in January, winning by unanimous decision, and will fight Cariaso at UFC Fight Night 41 in Cincinnati in the first televised main card bout on Fox Sports 1.
BRAD TAVARES
Hometown: Hilo
Record: 12-1 (7-1 UFC)
Class: Middleweight
Next fight: Saturday vs. Yoel Romero Palacio
Notes: Tavares will fight on the main Fox channel for the first time as the opening bout of Saturday’s UFC on Fox 11 event in Orlando, and is on the cusp of entering title-shot consideration.
RUSSELL DOANE
Hometown: Honolulu
Record: 9-3 (1-0 UFC)
Class: Bantamweight
Next fight: N/A
Notes: Doane won his UFC debut in January with a triangle submission in the final second of the second round. Doane won the King of the Cage flyweight world title in 2012. |
