Rotorua fighter Riini Apo is off to Las Vegas at the end of the month to compete at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships. Photo/Stephen Parker
Riini Apo thought his next fight would be in Dunedin.
But a text from his coach changed all that.
Local Brazilian jiu jitsu trainer Leon Corbett texted him saying he had been selected to fight in Las Vegas as an amateur.
He is one of six New Zealand fighters travelling to Las Vegas at the end of this month to fight in the inaugural International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships.
"Leon texted me on Friday saying I was going, it hasn't really hit me yet.
"It took me a while to text him back because I was in shock. It came from nowhere."
Apo said he did not even know he was in the running to be selected to represent New Zealand, but his coach had put his name forward.
To be eligible as an amateur, Apo had to have fought in less than five fights and could not hold a national title.
Apo, who has a record of two wins and no losses, said it was an awesome opportunity to fight in the United States. He said he had one goal when he gets to Las Vegas.
"I want to win, I want to bring the belt back, that is my goal and I feel pretty confident," he said. "Because I want to be in the UFC one day, that is where I want to be."
The New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation recently named six fighters to represent the country at the end of the month, with Apo the only heavyweight named in the group.
Fighters from across the world will be attending the big event. Apo said, most likely, he would be smaller than the other heavyweight fighters in Las Vegas, but he was still confident in his ability.
"I'm only 100kg, I'll probably be a bit smaller than everyone else but hopefully I will have my speed and agility [to rely on]," he said.
"I know my skills are there and I have been working on my fitness."
The 22-year-old started in mixed martial arts about three years ago and moved to his current gym, Spartans BJJ/MMA Rotorua, about two years ago.
"My little brother and older brother started on with Leon and talked me into going and I caught the bug, the jiu jitsu bug."
He now trains six times a week in Brazilian jiu jitsu and Muay Thai, which sets him up well for mixed martial arts competitions.
He has only been fighting properly for about a year now after taking part in his first fight in Palmerston North last July.
He won his first fight with a third round TKO and simply "loved it". He lined up in Tokoroa last October for his next fight where he won on points after three rounds.
He said if he did well in Las Vegas, he hoped to be scouted for other big fights and move towards his dream of competing in UFC.
Apo is trained in Muay Thai by Tama Maruera while Corbett takes him in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
To get to Las Vegas, Apo needs to raise between $3000 to $5000.
To support Apo contact his coach Leon from Spartans BJJ/MMA Rotorua on 027 326 1605.
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