Tynanes builds MMA rep overseas

Lowen Tynanes has had to do it the hard way.

The 22-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from Ewa Beach has yet to compete professionally in his home state.

That hasn’t kept him from making a name for himself in one of the sport’s biggest markets.

Tynanes (4-0) will fight with ONE Fighting Championship for the second time when he faces Felipe Enomoto (8-5) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

The fight, which takes place early Friday morning Hawaii time (approximately 1 a.m.), is one of 10 on the OFC 9: Rise to Power event that can be viewed online on the organization’s website, ONEFC.livesport.tv.

Tynanes, who graduated from Kailua High School, made his professional debut in 2011 fighting in Japan on a card headlined by his father, Myles.

In December 2012, he was brought in by a company in the Philippines to fight local hero Eduard Folayang.

Not expected to win, Tynanes did the unthinkable when he stopped Folayang in the first round by TKO, beginning his rapid ascent to prominence in the Philippines.

"It was one of those opportunities I had to take, even though most people say, ‘Yeah, you’re getting thrown to the wolves,’ " Tynanes said. "I knew his style and knew I could beat him and once I did that, it’s opened so many doors for me."

Fighting for the third time this year, Tynanes is coming off a submission victory in King of the Cage to win the organization’s light welterweight title.

Now, he heads back to the site of his biggest professional win to date, where he will compete in front of close to 20,000 people.

ONE FC is a newer organization trying to establish itself in the Asia market with the United States dominated by the UFC.

Unlike some of the other fighters in Hawaii, Tynanes has had to go overseas to make a name for himself.

"I fought for King of the Cage as an amateur in Hawaii and the promoter, who really liked my style, had some connections in Asia," Tynanes said. "They needed a guy to fight the Filipino world champion and I was willing to do it and that’s where everything started to happen for me."

A victory this weekend would give Tynanes a chance to continue his career with ONE FC, which is beginning to put together a roster of top talent from around the world. It includes former UFC world champions Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia, and ex-DREAM champions Shinya Aoki and Bibiano Fernandes.

Tynanes’ father played a big part in his venture into the world of MMA.

Until the win over Folayang, however, Tynanes wasn’t sure he would make a career out of it.

"My dad is the whole reason I do pretty much everything I do and he’s the one who pushed me and gave me the opportunity to choose any sport I wanted," said Tynanes, who played football and wrestled in high school. "I wasn’t sure this is what I was going to do, but here I am and now the ultimate goal is to get to the UFC."

A win Friday would be a big step forward.