Ring Girl: 4/4/14
BY NICOLE KATO
Joey “Ballistic” Balai, who has a 7-4 MMA record, along with records of 2-3 kickboxing, 4-1 Triple Threat and 3-1 pankration, was supposed to fight in last weekend’s event, but an injury caused him to miss the action. “One of my favorite thing about the sport is getting punched in the face,” says the Makaha native. He first got interested in the sport six years ago, when he started sparring with his friends at the park. “What got me into this is I had someone (Keka Doi-Toilolo) who believed in me and was willing to teach a person with no skills whatsoever,” Balai says. This stand-up aficionado currently trains out of Total Control Kickboxing, and is awaiting his next fight. “I have a secret love of getting hit. But in all seriousness, I love it when it’s the last round and my opponent and I are tired and bloody and we both come out about to give it all because with that kind of fight there are no real losers.” While he’s recovering, he’s keeping busy at his job at Waianae Early Education Center … Congratulations to Jose Barreiro, who was featured here last week, on his win for the SEC 155-lbs. title … The same people who brought you last weekend’s fights have another set coming up April 12 at The Fix Sports Lounge and Nightclub. Stay tuned next week for match up details.
