KOLOA — In just his third pro fight, a local fighter will challenge for another championship belt.
Timothy “War” Teves, of Kapahi, will fight for the vacant X1 MMA 145-pound featherweight title on Aug. 4 in Honolulu. He will fight Niko Novelli from Anchorage, Alaska.
“My performance from my last fight, I took out one of Hawaii’s top contenders I would say,” Teves said Friday. “By the fashion of the performance that I displayed that night, I showed them I have what it takes to fight for that world title. So, they gave me the shot.”
Teves, 27, is 2-0 in his pro career. Both fights, he won via technical knockout.
In his last fight, Teves won the Destiny MMA 145-pound state championship by defeating Ryan Dela Cruz (8-5), of Hawaii, in the main event of Destiny MMA’s Fight Night 4 in February at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
“I always want the finish. I would never want to leave it to the judges, but when I step in there, I just let it happen,” Teves said. “I don’t try to stick to any game plan. I just go out there and (let it) flow. If it happens, it happens.”
Novelli has a 7-1 record and is the Alaska Fighting Championship 145-pound title holder, according to X1.
“He has a jiu-jitsu base. I understand he’s a brown belt in jiu-jitsu,” Teves said of his upcoming opponent. “Nothing special, man. Yeah, he’s 7-1. He’s a veteran. He’s fought in front of (Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White) a few times. … It’s not going to be an easy fight. I’m fighting a champion.”
He added: “I have a strong jiu-jitsu base as well. That’s where my roots started. I’m comfortable wherever it goes. I train everything, not just jiu-jitsu. Wherever it goes, I’ll be ready. I’m preparing for the worst.”
Teves was orginally to fight former X1 title holder Canaan Kawaihae (3-0, 1 no contest) of Kailua, Oahu. Kawaihae vacated the belt to compete in the UFC’s “Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.”
“That’s what the Hawaii fight fans wanted to see. It is what it is,” Teves said of not fighting Kawaihae. “He had a great opportunity, which set me up for a great opportunity, too. We’re both trying to get to that next level. We’re both pursuing getting into the UFC. As fighters from Hawaii, we need to start supporting each other, too.”
Teves said he’s been training for the past month. Soon, though, his schedule will change as he’s expecting his third son.
“This is going to be a hard camp. My baby is coming in a week,” he said. “Another tough camp getting the training in. It’s going to take a big toll on this fight camp, but that’s what pushes me harder. That gives me the drive to get me to the next level. It’s my motivation right there. … I thank my girlfriend, too, for the help. For letting me train. For letting me let out my demons. For letting me take time away from her.”
If Teves wins the X1 featherweight title, he believes it will bring him closer to the goal of reaching MMA’s pinnacle.
“(X1) is the biggest promotion in Hawaii. This is the strap I need to get into the UFC,” he said. “I need to claim this title and show Hawaii I’m the best (145 pounder) out there.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
