Scotty Hao is Las Vegas bound, but all of his upcoming trips to Sin City will be strictly business.
The Kailua-Kona based MMA fighter inked a four-fight deal with Final Fight Championships earlier this month.
The opportunity with FFC is a unique one for Hao. The organization plans to hold weekly combat sport fights — everything from boxing to muay thai, kickboxing and MMA — at the Rio’s Fight Dome. He is slated to complete the four fights within a year, a grueling schedule for a fighter. Hao plans to fight at 155 pounds in FFC.
Hao most recently fought in a pair of King of the Cage fights in Oregon, the last being in August of 2017. His pro resume currently sits a 3-2, with both losses coming via decision at the KOTC events, one being a split decision.
But now rested, improved and ready, Hao is set for the next challenge ahead of him. He took some time to answer some questions after putting pen to paper on the deal.
How does it feel to have the deal signed?
It feels nice to have promised fights and knowing that I will get that opponent for sure. The hardest thing for us to do is to land a promotion out there that is willing to have someone so far away fight on their card. And then we still have to land an opponent. This way, with a signed contract, I will be guaranteed my fights, which is a huge stress taken off our shoulders.
With the promotion doing an event every weekend — boxing, kickboxing, muay thai and MMA — I will be fighting in a ring this time instead of a cage. Imagine Pride (Fighting Championships), it’s like that. I will be facing new challenges along with meeting new faces in the ring.
Four fights within a year is a pretty tough schedule. What will the preparation be like?
I’ve recently started training at Shibui Dojo. My preparation will consist of high amounts of training, game plans and practicing those to see where my strengths and weaknesses are so that I can improve from there. I am hoping to get one fight by the end of the year so I can space the three others out next year. But if extra ones come my way and I am medically cleared, I will be taking those as well.
Our goal is to train hard but train smart so that we don’t get hurt in the process.
Since your last fight, what’s your training been like? Focuses?
I have been working on a lot more jiu-jitsu and wrestling. With jiu-jitsu I have been touching base on the small details, which really make a difference when trying to land a move.
We also do a lot of situational drilling which is really good to learn how to be comfortable in an uncomfortable situation because no matter how bad any of us want to be in the dominant position, it doesn’t always work that way. So we work scenarios like if this happens do this, or whatever you do, don’t do this.
I have also been working a lot on my muay thai. I always love stand up, but I want to go into the cage a new fighter. I know they are going to be watching my fights and I want to go in there a different fighter than what they will expect.
Wrestling has been a huge focus, as well. I didn’t wrestle in high school, but out there almost all the guys I fight are high-level wrestlers. So in order for me to understand what they are doing, I need to be able to do it myself. I feel like that will be a huge help.
A huge part that I have been focusing on has been my diet. I used to sit at a pretty high weight and cut down about 30 pounds which starts to take a toll on your body after so many times. So I have been able to cut out all junk food, sodas, energy drinks, etc. and start eating very clean and healthy which I feel like is fueling me better and will also aid in my weight cuts.
Where do you feel you have improved the most as a fighter?
In all honesty, I feel like I can always learn more.
I have been working on my whole game and I can see that things are improving but I feel like there is always so much more for me to learn. But, if I had to chose one thing that I feel has improved it is learning how to take care of my body correctly.
For so long, I have fought and just pushed through the pain. I figured it came with the job title but I have been learning how to correct things in my body and figure out why certain muscles aren’t firing. If I can correct them it helps me train harder and fight more efficiently.
Fighting in Vegas at the Rio is going to be a fun experience. What are some of your thoughts on that?
Fighting is a privilege and I am extremely excited to bring Kona to the big screen. Fighting in Vegas, I feel, is an amazing opportunity. Vegas is the Ninth island and I feel like that makes it the perfect floor to get my start.
There are some great opportunities in this promotion and I feel like with the help of the Kona community, as well as the support of everyone on the Ninth island, we can put Kona on the map and start to really work towards the bigger and better goals.
What has you most excited about this opportunity?
Fighting in a ring for the very first time. I love new experiences and sharpening my skills, and I feel like this will make me more versatile. I look at it as a challenge and I am always looking for a way to challenge myself. Being a martial artist, you need to learn to adapt and I feel like this is a good way to show that I can do that.
And I am excited about it being aired live on TV (CBS Sports, nationwide).
Anything else you want to add?
I would like to thank a man named Donn Kawabata for exposing me to martial arts. Average Joes is where I started, that was the beginning of my career and will never be forgotten.
Shibui Dojo has taught me more than martial art skills. It has taught me to mentally be prepared, as well. Without them, I would not be able to be where I am today.
I would also like to thank sensi Champ Tremaine and Darrell Andrade (jiu jitsu), sensi Mike (muay thai), my wrestling coach Rico, coach Steve of Imua Iron (strength and conditioning) and all of the Shibui Dojo members.
Also, a thank you to all of those sponsors who have believed in me since day one.
Lastly, I want to thank my wife and daughters as well for everything they do, from getting the contracts down to helping me with fundraisers to get me out to the fights.