Imagine a 375-pound "Butterbean" and a 265-pound "Cabbage" walking together through Waikiki.

It's gonna happen.

But first, they'll collide in the ring when Eric "Butterbean" Esch faces Wesley "Cabbage" Correira in the K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawai'i event on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It's funny because we're actually good friends now," Correira said. "When I found out I had to fight him, I called him up and he was laughing. He said we'll have fun with it and then we can hang out after."

Esch will face Correira in a quarterfinal bout of an eight-man heavyweight tournament on Saturday. The winner of the tournament must win three bouts on Saturday over three separate opponents.

The winner will receive a spot at the K-1 World Grand Prix finals in Japan in December.

K-1 is a Japan-based organization that features modified kickboxing rules. No grappling is allowed, and most of the action comes through punching and kicking.

Saturday's card is being promoted by former sumo grand champion Akebono — also known as Chad Rowan of Waimanalo.

Correira, who is from Hilo, will be one of two Hawai'i fighters in the tournament. The other is Deutsch Pu'u.

"I feel good representing Hawai'i in this tournament," said Correira, 29. "There's some big names. Only good things can come out of this for me."

Esch is a popular fighter, who is most known for his cartoonish appearance and knockout punches. His boxing record is listed at 77-7-4, while his mixed martial arts record is 10-6-1.

One of his MMA victories came over Correira at the Rumble on the Rock card at the Blaisdell Center Arena in January 2006. The bout was stopped after the second round due to an arm injury to Correira.

Esch and Correira became friends after that bout.

"We talk, we even traveled to London together for an event," Correira said. "This fight will be like a hard training session for me. It's like how you spar against one of your friends in practice."

Still, heavy strikes are expected out of the two heavyweights.

Correira has an MMA record of 19-14, with 15 wins via knockout. But Saturday will be only his second bout under K-1 rules.

"In MMA, you don't use that many leg kicks because you have to worry about getting taken down," he said. "In K-1, you can plant your feet and leg kick all you want."

SATURDAY'S BOUTS

HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT

Quarterfinal 1: Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga vs. Justice Smith. Quarterfinal 2: Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira. Quarterfinal 3: Chalid "Die Faust" Arrab vs. Deutsch Pu'u. Quarterfinal 4: Nicholas Pettas vs. Rick Cheek.

SUPER FIGHTS

Paul Slowinski vs. Aziz Jahjah; Scott Junk vs. Min Soo Kim; Badr Hari vs. Domagoj Ostojic.

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

Randy Kim vs. Vilitonu Fonokalafi; Gohkan Saki vs. Junior Sua.