The last time Russell Doane was scheduled to fight, his opponent canceled just as he was about to walk to the cage.

"Apparently I don’t play well with others," he said.

In mixed martial arts, that’s probably a good thing.

Nobody will be backing out of tonight’s fight as Doane challenges Frank Baca for Baca’s world flyweight title in the co-main event of a King of the Cage card at the Blaisdell Arena.

Doane, 25, who is undefeated in six professional fights, has a chance to score a career-changing win against Baca (14-1) that would surely open doors for bigger fights in the future.

"This is a big show and (Baca) is a big name," Doane said Friday. "This is a big stage for me."

Doane hasn’t fought in more than a year, but not by choice. He’s had four different fights fall apart for various reasons, including a recent bout at Aloha Tower in which he said his opponent bailed minutes before the fight was to start.

Despite the inactivity, Doane said he trains two to three times a day and isn’t worried about the long layoff.

"I’m always being told, ‘Russell, you’ve got to take a day off,’ but I don’t know any other way," he said. "Sundays I’ll only train once a day and that’s the easiest day I have."

Since turning pro at age 21, Doane has won all his fights by either knockout or submission and has only once been taken into the second round.

He trains at 808 Top Team and has a chance to join teammate Ronald Jhun as fighters from Hawaii to win titles in King of the Cage.

"This is a big step for my career, but this is also a big fight for my team," Doane said. "It’d be nice to bring (Jhun) back another belt."

Jhun held the KOTC welterweight title nine years ago when he beat Shonie Carter.

Other former KOTC champions include Urijah Faber, Diego Sanchez, Joe Stevenson and Rory MacDonald, who is expected to fight B.J. Penn in the UFC later this year.

Other than Penn, no other MMA fighter from Hawaii has developed a following like Niko Vitale, who will enter the cage as a professional for the 40th time.

Tonight could potentially mark the final fight for Vitale (29-10), who will celebrate his 38th birthday inside the cage against Elmer Waterhen (12-15) in the event’s featured bout.

Vitale has headlined events at the Blaisdell for more than a decade, but hasn’t fought in 14 months since losing to Hector Lombard at Bellator 44 in Atlantic City, N.J., last May.

A win could set up another pro fight in October, but a loss might mean the end of a legendary career.

"If I come out with a victory (tonight) who knows, I might just come back again and compete in the ring," Vitale said. "After one year off, I’m excited to get back in the ring and do what I do best."

Vitale has won eight in a row in Hawaii since losing to Robbie Lawler in February 2006.