Maui Fighters Score Titles in Triple Threat Co-Main Events

The inagural Triple Threat Fights mixed martial arts show featured three championship fights on the line at the end of the night, including two in the co-main event and main event boughts. By the end of the night, a pair of Maui fighters walked away with a belt around their waist in front of 800 people at the Edith Kanaka’ole Tennis Stadium in Hilo

The main event of the evening was a bantamweight title bout between Hilo’s “Rootless” Daniel Friend and Riley Dutro of Maui. Both fighters gave the Hilo crowd an exciting show in the first round of the bout, easily producing high-octane action that was sporadic throughout the night. Dutro used his knees to his advantage early, nailing several of them in the first round, but friend came back with some hard punches.

Dutro’s knees were once again vicious, helping to start a gash under Friend’s left eye. He also threw a beautiful right-handed counter to a Friend punch later in the second Round. Friend seemed step up his effort in the third round, hitting a flying knee of his own to the head of Dutro. He also hit a barrage of rights and lefts at the end of the round with his opponent’s back to the cage. But, his late offense was not enough. as Dutro won the bout, and the title, by judge’s decision.

The co-main event featured Kona’s Van Oscar Penovaroff and Maui’s Eddie Perrells for the Triple Threat Featherweight Championship. Perrells got the first offense in the bout, and tried to end the bout in the opening round after trying to apply some kind of arm submission move on “Kona Gold.” The submission was put in after Penovaroff was trying to work off of the mat and get back to a neutral position.

Penovaroff had his back on the mat, however, several times during the second round, and worked out of it both times. That seemed to be the difference in a fairly even round which featured solid strikes on both sides. In the third, Penovaroff had once again fought off of his back and for a moment, had Perrrels’ back in front of him, when he used his elbows to continue to set his positioning. The official, MMA fighter “Iron” Mike Aina, stopped his use of the elbows near the back of Perrels’ head, and the Maui fighter took advantage, finishing the round by standing over Penovaroff, who was taken down yet again.

The controversial bout of the night was for the lightweight title when Patrick Torres squared off with Kawika “Tips” Martin. The red-haired Martin, seemed to control the first few rounds of the bout, by scoring the first takedown in the opening round, which was stood up by the referee because of little action. Torres got a take down of his own in the second round, using a wrestling-like back suplex to put Martin on the mat, but “Tips” turned the tables on his opponent and was able to get on top of Torres and drop rights and lefts on his opponent.

Torres made the fight interesting in the third round after being taken down twice in the round. Late in the fight, with Tips on the ground, almost sitting up, Torres landed a swift kick to the head of Martin, his best offense of the night. Turned out, that may have been his most important offense of the night, as judges awarded Torres the title over Martin. Much of the crowd booed the decision, and Martin walked out of the cage immediately and punched a wall inside the tennis stadium right in front of the designated fighter’s entrance area. After being able to cool down, both fighters embraced outside of the cage.

The three title fights capped a 13-bout card that was the first under the Triple Threat banner. No date has been announced for the next fight card.

Complete fight card results

Ricky Mamone vs. Drisen Roman – Both fighters announced as winners

Elijah Apao def. David Martines Jr. – Decision

Kamuela Mamone def. Mikaela Correa  – Decision

Michael Thompson def. Jonah Aiona – Referee Stoppage (2nd Round)

Sama Sekona def. Andrew Sanchis – TKO (2nd Round)

Kaeo Meyers def. Brandon Machado – Decision

Ashton Castro def. Josh Sosa – Guillotine Choke (2nd Round)

Riquo Abadilla def. Tyler Leopoldino – Knockout (1st Round)

Donald Gonsalve def. Rico Nasario – Triangle Choke (2nd Round)

Petey Vital def. Kevin Silva – Decision

Patrick Torres def. Kawika Martin – Decision

Eddie Perrells def. Van Oscar Penovaroff – Decision

Riley Dutro def. Daniel Friend – Decision