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Peni “Tongan Assassin” Taufa’ao |
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Interview with Peni “Tongan Assassin” Taufa’ao *PT 135lbs - Eastsidaz Fight Club by MMAHawaii
MMAHawaii: Can you tell us a little about your current records and how you got into martial arts?
PT: In MMA I am 3-1 and I have some kickboxing fights too. As a kid I always like to watch Bruce Lee and Van Damm and any other Martial Art movies I could find. When I came to Hawaii, a friend of mine was already in the game and asked me if I wanted to give it a try..
 MMAHawaii: I read somewhere that you have a passion for yet another contact sport, can you tell us about that?
PT: As a kid I started to play rugby and volleyball. I loved rugby because you get to knock people down. And it requires a lot of training and conditioning. Also I liked volleyball because like anyone else I love to spike the ball at people.
MMAHawaii: How does being in the ring compare to say being in a scrum with a number of huge guys coming after you?
PT: The difference is that in Rugby you have up to fifteen guys after you. In the ring you only have the guy in front of you and the ref, then again in rugby the ref can get KO’d if he makes a bad call. So maybe rugby is not so bad hahaha
MMAHawaii: Do you still fight both MMA and kickboxing? Which do you prefer, why?
PT: I am still game to fight either sport, cause I like both sports equally.
MMAHawaii:
PT: I liked my first fight when I fought Isaiah Cobb-Adams, I guess because it was my first fight and I was so excited about fighting.
MMAHawaii: What is your take on the 135lb division?
PT: I think it’s an exciting weight class, there is a lot of explosiveness and action.
MMAHawaii: Fighting means different things to different people, what is your philosophy in fighting?
PT: My ancestors were warriors and when I fight it reminds me of the battles that they had to win to make Tonga what it is today. In MMA I will have my own battles to win in order to get where I want to be.
MMAHawaii: You have a fight coming up in Maui on March 29th, what do you know about your opponent Gerald Gamit?
PT: I know he has some ground and he has a couple of fights under his belt. We also fought on a card together in Maui before.
MMAHawaii: What does a win over Gerald Gamit mean for you and for your career?
PT: It means a lot, because in this game every win counts for something.
MMAHawaii: You come from a team that has a number of champions in various weight classes; does this push you to train harder?
PT: Of course, most of them have been in the game longer and it pushes me to want to be as successful as they are and get the opportunities like they have gotten.
MMAHawaii: Anything else you’d like to say to the Hawaii fans and/or your opponent?
PT: I want to thank god for blessing me, to my family and to my team Eastsidaz Fight Club and our coach Mike B for always pushing me. Thanks to the fans and all the Hawaii fighters for making the sport what it is today. To my opponent in Maui just want to say good luck. What is your most memorable fight of your career kickboxing or MMA?
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