Toughman Hawaii’s Next Generation season finale is slated for Sept. 23 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, and the main event will feature two 17-year-old fighters who have fought for Team USA at the Youth MMA World Championships — Eric ‘Frosty’ Cortez and Adrian Lee.
Toughman Hawaii’s Next Generation season finale is slated for Sept. 23 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, and the main event will feature two 17-year-old fighters who have fought for Team USA at the Youth MMA World Championships — Eric ‘Frosty’ Cortez and Adrian Lee.
Hailing from Mililani, O‘ahu, Lee is a six-time world champion and returning toughman competitor.
Lee is also a four-time national youth MMA champion and was the 2023 HHSAA wrestling 160 lbs. state champion.
Lee will take on Cortez, who is an IMMAF World silver medalist and member of Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Calif — which was founded by UFC’s Urijah Faber, who will attend the tournament. Cortez was the champion of the 160 lbs. class at the 2023 World of Wrestling Reno Worlds, and a champion at the 2022 Youth MMA nationals in Temecula, Calif.
Lee and Cortez will compete at 165 pounds in Pankration.
“The show is gonna be spectacular,” Toughman promoter Walter Carvalho said. “Six titles are on the line.”
The Toughman finals will see a number of mainland competitors — including nine youth fighters from pro MMA fighter Isaiah Hill’s academy in San Jose, Calif., and Maximo ‘El Galliot’ Kyle, son of former UFC fighter Mike Kyle — take on youth fighters from Hawaii.
“It’ll almost be like mainland versus Hawaii,” Carvalho said. “It’s gonna be amazing.”
Competitors from Hilo and Puna will include Mikah Grace, Keean Flores, Gemar Alvarado, Skylar Flores, Anela Lee and Savon Barnard.
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