James Te Huna is making a name for himself in the gruelling world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship - and he has a strong Otago link. Sports editor Hayden Meikle finds out more about a fighter rising up the rankings.
Central Otago is known for its weather, wine and stunning scenery, and the region has produced some outstanding achievers in sport over the years.
But did you realise one of the best-performed athletes in the growing world of mixed martial arts was a son of Dunstan?Well, sort of. James Te Huna spent only three years in Alexandra, but that should be enough to claim him.
Te Huna (31) is a fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the UFC, the premier level of a discipline that has quickly morphed from back-alley curiosity to mainstream sport and powerful business.
He has a record of five wins and one loss with the company, and next month faces the biggest fight of his career when he steps into the ''octagon'' in Las Vegas to meet outstanding Brazilian Glover Teixeira.
Glitzy fight nights and brutal in-ring meetings with some of the world's premier MMA exponents are worlds away from the (relatively) quiet streets of Alexandra.
Te Huna, born in Darfield, moved to Moa Creek with his family in 1994. A few months later, they relocated to Alexandra, where a ''skinny kid with two left feet'' attended Dunstan High School.
In an email to the Otago Daily Times from Sydney, where he moved with his family in 1997, Te Huna said he had warm memories of his old school and district.
''Great teachers and students. I was the quiet kid in high school and loved to be involved in a variety of sports.
''Though I wasn't a great athlete, I was always keen to have a go. I was the skinny kid, with two left feet, and found it hard to stand up for myself. I was the one who sat on the fence most of the time.''
Te Huna was a fan of boxing, watching Mike Tyson and then New Zealand heavyweight contender David Tua. He started training and fighting when he was 13, but when his older brother, Tama, moved to Sydney, Te Huna and parents quickly followed, and boxing was shelved.
He worked in construction, and restored muscle cars in his spare time. One day, Tama Te Huna came home with some tapes of UFC events he had bought from the Sydney markets.
''We were hooked, watching all different types of fighting disciplines competing against each other.
''I started back training in other disciplines to improve as more of a complete fighter, and my MMA career rolled on from there.''
James Te Huna took his early steps in cage fighting, becoming the world light-heavyweight champion - and getting in some strife for stomping an opponent after the bell.
He was noticed by the UFC at a tournament in Sydney in 2010.
''I quit my job as a bricklayer and borrowed money off my friends so I could pay my living expenses for the remaining couple of months for each fight I had.
''A win in each fight meant I could pay everyone back with the money I earned from the fight. A loss meant that I went back to work and did overtime every day, so this gave me even more motivation to win.
''I won each fight by referee stoppage, I knocked out a UFC veteran, I became the light-heavyweight champ and I had a good win-streak on my record. With this, I approached an experienced manager and I signed with the UFC.''
Te Huna beat Croatian Igor Pokrajac in his UFC debut - despite a broken arm - before losing to Sweden's Alex Gustaffson in a first-round submission. He lost that fight but gained a lot of respect when he donated his share of the purse to the Christchurch earthquake appeal.
Two wins by first-round knockout followed before Te Huna really grabbed attention with a brutal decision over Joey Beltran and a phenomenal comeback win over Ryan Jimmo, the latter preceded by a Men In Black-inspired entrance that became a YouTube hit.
Now, the biggest night of Te Huna's career approaches. On May 25, at the MGM Grand Garden Casino, he will be one of the headliners at the UFC 160 pay-per-view.
He is still a little shocked to be fighting. Intending to be there as a support to New Zealand's Mark Hunt, he was whistled up as an injury replacement.
Te Huna, a second cousin of Steel netballer Jodi Brown (nee Te Huna), will start as a heavy underdog against Teixeira, who has a 20-2 overall record and is riding an 18-fight winning streak.
''He is the most feared light-heavyweight in the division,'' Te Huna said.
''I took this fight for the same reason that drew me into this sport - the challenge. I've been taking gambles my whole life. This is just another.''
