Curran hits the UFC

Hawaii’s rapid increase of mixed martial arts fighters in the UFC now extends to the female divisions.

Ewa Beach’s Kailin Curran will become the first Hawaii-born female fighter to compete in the UFC on Saturday when she makes her Octagon debut against Paige VanZant in a 115-pound bout at UFC Fight Night in Austin, Texas.

Curran’s fight is one of two that will be shown on UFC Fight Pass, which is available to order through the UFC’s web site.

The rest of the preliminary bouts and the main card will be shown on Fox Sports 1.

Curran, who wrestled at Campbell High, moved to California this year to try to find more opportunities to pursue her MMA career.

She won three fights with Pacific Xtreme Combat and was invited to try out for the UFC’s "Ultimate Fighter" reality show.

She declined, yet still finds herself making her debut with the company just a few months later.

"I knew it was a good opportunity, but I felt like I was still going to make it (into the UFC) somehow without going into the house," Curran said. "Paige was signed to be in the house but was too young and ended up not doing it, so from there, (the UFC) matched us up and that’s how I made my way into the UFC."

Curran’s fight with VanZant was originally scheduled for Oct. 4 but was pushed back seven weeks.

As a result, she’s endured the longest training camp for a fight and is eager to finally step inside the cage and test herself against the best in the world.

"I’ve had a lot of time to prepare," Curran said. "Being the first girl (from Hawaii) in the UFC is cool and it’s definitely an honor, but I’m just excited and focused and ready for the fight."

Curran got into the sport after wrestling for the Sabers. She placed fourth at 118 pounds in the 2008 state tournament and second in 2009 after winning the OIA championship.

She started kickboxing at the time and made her amateur debut when she turned 18.

Curran enrolled at Leeward Community College but quickly realized it wasn’t for her. She had two different regular jobs before an opportunity came to turn professional.

"I got in touch with Kai Kamaka, who helped get me a contract with PXC, and so from there, that’s when I turned professional and decided to try to give this a shot," Curran said. "I didn’t think it was going to be a career at all for me. It was more for fun and I liked it, but I didn’t want to go to college and didn’t want to work jobs I didn’t like, so I figured I’d give it a shot once I got the opportunity."

Her three unanimous decision wins over an 11-month span that ended in March validated that decision.

How Saturday plays out will go a long way in determining how far she can take this MMA career choice.

"I felt blessed and thankful and grateful to get the opportunity, but I feel now that this is where I’m supposed to be," Curran said. "Now it’s time to focus in. I really haven’t made it yet until I prove myself, so this is what I’m planning on doing in this fight."