Agreeing with the mantra of UFC Hall of Fame member Matt Hughes that you are not a true champion until you defend your belt, Makatea-Leylander has been hard at work for his title defence against new challenger Rene Rashka (Hybrid MMA), who has stepped in for the withdrawn Deej Edwards.
The change in opponent was not a concern.
"I don't mind, I'm willing to fight anyone at my weight. If you're 75kg, I want to fight you.
"We've been training hard for this. We swim a lot, run a lot, work out a lot.
"You have more eyes on you [as champion], heaps of content out there.
"It's a hectic night, [hope] the crowd goes ballistic again."
Across on the other basketball court is where the ring was set up two and a half years ago for the Rise of the Fallen boxing show, headlined by IBO Oceania champion Robert Berridge.
Yet it was a young first-time corporate boxer named Emily Kara who stole the show that night.
Coming in with only eight weeks training and having been a social drinker through her Riverside bar job, Kara tore into fellow barmaid Jennifer Alston with windmill-style punches, before getting caught herself and put on the canvas, then getting up to win the fight by split decision to the roar of the crowd.
The moment changed the trajectory of Kara's life, as she has taken up fighting seriously with the Assassins, having a series of novice Muay Thai bouts which are automatic draws.
Kara will now have her first proper kickboxing match at 58kg against Waitohu Ngarewa of the Pitbull club.
"I've never really got to show too much, so I want to do that this time around," she said.
"At that boxing fight, I fell in love with it. I mean, you're actually allowed to hit someone?
"I'm definitely a lot more technical now. I want to develop a style - hit and don't get hit."
Kara's conditioning will be firmly tested by allrounder Ngarewa, who has a black belt in martial arts and an extensive multisport career in Ironwoman events.
Brendon Wallace was not stopping his skipping rope routines and stretching even for a photo shoot, as he remains focused on making weight for his IKBF NZ Middleweight championship fight with the very experienced Mike Kapi (Misfits).
"I'm nervous as s**t right now," said the young man, who is on a seven fight win streak.
"I know that I'll turn up on the night. He's going to come at me - it's a brawl.
"But I'm not going to be there [to get hit]. You've just got to adjust when you're in there."
There will be other novice fights on the card for the next generation of competitors, which will allow Tash Tuuta to follow Kara's footsteps when she has a padded 78kg bout against Jaime Clarke (Hori Muay Thai Rotorua).
"It's quite intimidating, but get to finally put training into action," she said.
Clarke has already had a couple of novice bouts, but Tuuta's goals are to find out about herself and learn in the heat of battle.
There has been another change to the card as expat local Jono Anderson (Lion Pit) will now go up against Tararanki's Kodie Huffam (Hydra) for the IKBF North Island Welterweight championship.
Huffam replaces Scott Aitken (Jai Thai).
Promotor Kyle Gallacher is organising streaming of fights and will even have drone footage from inside the building on the night.
As it will be a long evening with a 14 fight card and alcohol is available, Gallacher reminded punters to moderate themselves, both during and after the event, as security will be tight on the evening.
Night of the Assassins 2 is next Saturday at Springvale Stadium, starting at 6pm with VIP tables, R18 and family sections available.
Individual tickets are $30 on the night, with pre-sale tickets available for $25 from UGC Hair & Beauty and the Inspire gym.
