Inoue preparing to take on the world
By Seabrook Mow
Special to The Advertiser
Manoa's Egan Inoue plans on becoming a world champion again, adding to his world titles as a former two-time champion in racquetball and Jiu-Jitsu.
• When: Tomorrow • Where: Blaisdell Arena • Time: Doors open 6:30 p.m. preliminary fights start 7:30 • Tickets: $25 reserved seating (advanced); $29 reserved seating (day of show); $50 VIP Ringside. Available at Blaisdell Box Office or www.superbrawl.tv • Information: 524-6062
This time Inoue, 36, wants to become the Ultimate Fighting Championships' middleweight champion.
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Super Brawl 22
But to be deemed worthy for a possible title shot, Inoue (12-3) will have to prove himself against Canadian Joe Doerksen (19-2) in the middleweight (185 pounds) championship at Super Brawl 22 tomorrow at Blaisdell Arena.
Preliminary bouts start at 7:30 p.m.
Doerksen is ranked No. 10 by Mixed Martial Arts Writers' Association.
"This is the first time in Hawai'i, for sure, Egan will be an underdog," Super Brawl promoter T. Jay Thompson said. "It's a better chance that Egan is going to walk away as a loser than a champion, and I find that exciting."
Inoue isn't intimidated by such talk.
"I read all over the Internet how he's going to submit me. But it's hard to say (how the match will go)," Inoue said. "I'm just going to come out hard."
In mixed martial arts competition, a fighter must be prepared to use the combined concepts of striking and grappling.
The 5-foot-10 Inoue said his tentative strategy is to initiate the action, forcing the 6-foot-1 Doerksen to take him down, where the battle turns into a match for position and submission.
However, by taking the match to the ground, Inoue's plan may backfire since Doerksen won all his matches by submission.
Inoue sees it differently. "At this weight class guys aren't as big or strong," he said. "I feel like I'm a lot stronger than guys at this weight.
"Before, I was fighting at any weight it didn't matter, I was fighting anybody at any weight," added Inoue.
Co-headlining the card is 22-year-old Wes Correira of Hilo, who will fight Miles Tynanes, a 27-year-old from 'Ewa Beach.
The card
Kaika Tiger vs. Jay R. Palmer; Deshaun Johnson vs. Kolo Koka; Ryan Diaz vs. Eddie Yagin; Jose Lopez vs. Lincoln Tyler; Sarah Finaseth vs. Beta Yeung; John Renken vs. Falaniko Vitale; Miles Tynanes vs. Wes Coreirra; Joe Doerksen vs. Egan Inoue.
