There has never been a bigger mixed martial arts event in Hilo than the latest Just Scrap, which features three of the four local Mount Rushmore legends.
Ross “The Boss” Ebanez (20-9-3), the local MMA icon original, will headline the main event, taking on Collin Reuter (10-3-1), from Canada’s Team Alaska, in a 170-pound welterweight fight Friday night at Edith Kanakaole multipurpose stadium.
In the semi-main, it’s Toby “2 Quick” Misech (4-4) against Josey Wells (2-1), from Team Alaska, in a 135-pound bantamweight bout.
“Iron” Mike Aina (13-6-1) will take on Bill Zimmerman (10-4), from Team Alaska, in a 150-pound catch-weight fight (145 feather and 155 light).
Ebanez is a 1993 Hilo High graduate, Misech a 2006 Hilo grad, and Aina a 1998 Waiakea grad. The only local Mount Rushmore legend missing is 1995 Waiakea graduate Chad Thomas (4-1), the heavyweight knockout artist. In his four wins, Thomas has a KO or technical knockout in the first or second round.
For those wondering about BJ Penn’s place on the local Mount Rushmore landscape, he’s never fought in Just Scrap in Hilo. Thomas, Ebanez, Aina and Misech — all in a debatable order — have shined the brightest light on BJPenn.com’s Just Scrap main events.
Instead, Penn (16-10-2) is a UFC legend, a former champion in two weight classes, and considered one of the greatest all-around MMA artists of all time.
There are also five Just Scrap amateur title belts on the line. There has been Just Scrap cards with five championship fights before. But there has never been a Just Scrap event with three Mount Rushmore legends.
Just Scrap president and chief promoter JD Penn tried hard to get Thomas, hoping for a truly unprecedented show, but came away empty-handed.
“We just couldn’t align the stars,” said Penn, who couldn’t find a fit for Thomas’ machine-operator work schedule. “The tickets are just $20 bucks and I think we’ll get a huge crowd. This might be the biggest Just Scrap we’ve ever had. I’m getting goose bumps how the fight is going to be.”
There’s also club pride on the line. There are eight Boss MMA fighters, from coach Chad Hao and Ebanez’ chapter, which is based out of the BJ Penn Training and Fitness Center.
There’s Ebanez, Misech, Aina, Paul Norman (185 pounds), Adam Collarile (155 title), Levi Agcalan (145 title), Russell Mizuguchi (125 title), and Laura Meija (125).
“It’s the biggest Just Scrap. We’ve got the original main event guy with Ross,” Hao said. “He started the whole local MMA stuff as far as being on the Big Island with the local events. That’s why we used to call him Mr. Main Event.”
Pro vs. amateur
One obvious difference between a MMA pro and amateur fighter is technical skill-set. A pro can attack from stand-up and ground, and defend from both places, especially having the ability to avoid submissions being on his back.
But Hao, who is a jiu-jitsu black belt, believes there’s also something else that separates the Average Joe regular MMA amateur from those with pro potential, either UFC or Bellator type level.
“The main thing is work ethic,” he said. “You can be a pro or amateur, but if you’re not training as a pro you risk getting injured because the other guy is trying to rip your head off. You have to have the mentality of a pro because the mind carries the body.”
Then there’s the toolbox, the package of skills all pros bring to the office. Striking, with disciplines such as boxing, karate or Muay Thai, will always serve as a powerful weapon. But defense and the ability to counter takedowns, and submission attempts are just as necessary.
“Wrestling is comparable to judo. It’ll help dictate where the fight will go,” said JD Penn, another black belt who teaches jiu-jitsu. “Grappling or jiu-jitsu is what happens next when you hit the mat. From there you can go to ground-and-pound or be on your back and get submissions.
“Say I grab a soda, and there are all different flavors, but they’re all basically the same thing. It’s the same thing with mixed martial arts. You can’t do one without the other.”
Heart and soul
If Just Scrap ever reels in a big-time sponsor to show fights on television, Hao would be perfect at color commentary. He won’t have high-pitched screams like the UFC’s Joe Rogan. Rather, Hao would provide insightful analysis.
From his Boss MMA perch, he’s really good at breaking down his own fighters.
“Toby is fun to watch because his striking is so fast. They don’t call him ‘2 Quick’ for nothing,” Hao said. “He’s so fast and athletic and he’s got good conditioning. His pace is a fun thing to watch.
“Adam Collarile’s jiu-jitsu is pretty good. He’s finished the majority of his fights by submission. If the fight does go to the ground, if he’s not on top punching a guy, there’s a good chance he’ll pull off a submission.
“He’s got good technique, and his background is wrestling. He took well to jiu-jitsu and he caught on pretty quick, and it shows in his fights. He’ll catch you with an arm-bar. That’s how he won the belt.”
Hao puts an emphasis on mindset, not only in the cage, but outside as well.
“I expect our fighters to come out and hopefully be very composed, and follow the game plans we’ve put together,” he said. “We want them to perform as a pro, win or lose. You have to know how to win and to lose.
“I’d like to thank the people supporting the boys. They put their heart and soul into training. When the locals fight other locals, we’re sharpening each other. The only way to make a diamond is through pressure. Regardless if it’s our gym or any gym, we want one of our locals to break out and get to the next level, and represent the island.”