Mt Maunganui black belt Warren Steiner's message for Samoan no-show Kaino Thomsen-Fuataga, after winning his seventh New Zealand title at the weekend, was blunt: 'If you want another crack at me it'll be in the mixed martial arts ring."
The Mt Maunganui physical trainer cruised to his seventh black-belt heavyweight gold
at Tauranga's QEII Youth Centre on Saturday after his Samoan rival was a no-show.
Steiner was lured out of retirement after Thomsen-Fuataga, a Samoan Olympic hopeful, baited the 36-year-old, challenging him to a rematch after a controversial end to their gold-medal fight 12 months ago in Tauranga.
Steiner took out his sixth New Zealand Taekwondo Federation heavyweight title in a controversy-laden final over Thomsen-Fuataga and then promptly retired to begin training in mixed martial arts.
But, sick of Thomsen-Fuataga's taunts, he returned to competition, undergoing a punishing comeback regime under coach Kesi O'Neill, only to find out on Friday night his mouthy rival had apparently sustained a knee injury and wouldn't be fronting.
Steiner took his frustration out by disposing of South Auckland-based Samoan Afioga Afioga 10-5 in his first fight before easing past Turyn Wilkinson (Aotearoa) 11-5 in the gold-medal match.
Nursing a swollen and bruised left foot after a roundhouse kick caught Wilkinson flush on the elbow, Steiner said there would be no more comebacks.
"That's it, it's MMA (mixed martial arts) all the way now. I'll take a couple of days off and then get full-on back into training for my first MMA fight (in Auckland on July 2)."
Steiner was never been beaten at a national tournament as a black belt.
With a huge contingent of family and friends at the QEII, it was a bitter disappointment Thomsen-Fuataga didn't show.
"He won't get another fight with me now - if he's that desperate to come and get me he can switch over to MMA and I'll see him there."
Afioga put up a good fight but Steiner was always in control. Even a computer malfunction with 19sec left and the Team KO fighter up 10-5 didn't throw him.
"It was more annoying than anything because I was going well, but 4-5 points up meant I could move around, be a bit more defensive and not put myself in any danger situations."
