Warrior Profile: Mark Tupas
NEVER TOO MUCH OF TUPAS
BY NICOLE KATO
Mark Tupas is back, and better than ever.
The 24-year-old fighter made his MMA comeback complete last fall when he decided to give the sport he loves another shot.
“I knew I still had it,” he says.
Tupas took a break from the fight scene after some began to question whether he had the heart for this sport, particularly after he appeared on the reality TV show “The Champion.”
“Sometimes we let the little things get to us … happens to the best of us, but I know I was stronger than that and I wasn’t going to give up that easy,” he explains. “So I decided it’s time to come back — not just to prove everyone wrong, but to prove to myself that I can overcome obstacles and do things different.”
His dream, of course, is to crash the UFC scene and turn it into a career. “When you have a purpose, everything makes more sense,” says Tupas, adding, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” And so he’s putting in the extra work after the gym lights have been turned off, believing that what you do when no one is looking is what matters most. In particular, he’s focusing more on cardio and technique these days.
“I’m more serious about (training and fighting) now,” says Tupas, who has a 2-1 record since returning to the MMA world.
At his first event this spring, Tupas defeated Colin Mackenzie by arm bar submission in Round One at Destiny’s Cage Heat event at FilCom March 9.
His second win came against Richard Bernard via rear-naked choke hold in Round Two as part of the 145-pound division of “Unleashed,” hosted by Destiny at The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace April 28.
The Moanalua High School grad trains at War Horse Strength Camp with Victor Bell in Waipahu four days out of the week, and spends even more of his time at Powerhouse Gym with 808 Top Team in Pearl Kai Shopping Center.
He also credits much of his recent success to his boxing coach, Charles Kipilii Jr., who now works at the UFC gym in town.
“Ever since he started training me, my stand-up game has improved a lot,” Tupas says.
Look for Tupas in UIC (Unorthodox Industries Championship) MMA’s event, July 28 on Maui.
THE SCORECARD
RECORD: 2-1
HOMETOWN: Salt Lake
FIGHT DISCIPLINES: Boxing, Submission and Grappling
TRAINERS: Victor Bell (War Horse Strength Camp); Ron and Kim Jhun (808 Top Team) and Charles Kipilii Jr. (UFC Gym)
