By: King Eddie

Jacob Smith and Dylan Rush are two of the most intense and passionate people when it comes to the sport that they love. Jacob has over 60 Kickboxing fights, and Dylan is an all around athlete who has competed in several different sports and did so on elite levels. But who will be the last man standing when they meet in a battle of fists, knees, elbows, and shins on January 7th in Hilo at Toughman Hawaii: The New Beginning.

Dylan, who played both football for UCLA and Wrestled for Stanford, claims that his strengths in the fight will be his literal "strength".

" I'm big and strong, but I'm also quick. I'm an athlete. I plan on using my strength to manhandle him."

For Dylan, he just wants to fight. It doesn't matter if he wins or loses. He only fights for fun. So to him this is just a "test" of how far he has come.

"The thing about my fighting, is that I only do it for the love of it. So if I win this fight, it means that I am on the right track with my training."

When asked about what he knew regarding his opponent, the Fuel Academy prospect only had this to say. . .

"I know that he has some fancy kicks that he throws. He has been moderately successful with that. But I haven't been too impressed with his punches. They have no power."

Jacob Smith on the other hand, tells a completely different story. As a veteran of Kickboxing, Smith is no joke. As a member of UKA, he feels he is surrounded with the best training partners, and says " There is nothing he can show me that I haven't seen."

" I train with Johnavan Vistante, Jon Barnard, Ben Santiago. . . He won't surprise me. He is GUARANTEED going to feel my kicks. I'm more than ready to do this."

With that being said, Smith doesn't actually know much about Rush. And he doesn't really appear to mind. He knows that his intense training and his wealth of experience has shown him all he needs to know. Now he merely needs to implement his game onto Rush at will.

" I don't know too much about him at all actually. I know that he is a big name in Hilo. He's a contender. I don't usually fight at this weight class but to be the best you gotta beat everybody. I honestly think I am the best kickboxer in Hawaii."

When asked what this win would mean to him, Smith responded. . .

"It would be a big win. I know that I can beat anybody if I train. If I get this win, I want to start making things happen in MMA."

So be prepared and get your tickets now. Toughman Hawaii at Hilo Civic, January 7th, 2012. It's going to be fireworks.