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Hawaii's Kai Kamaka III receives family support for PFL semifinals

When he needed guidance, young Kai Kamaka III looked to his cousin. Whether it was Pop Warner football, wrestling or fighting, Ray Cooper III, two years older, always seemed to know what he had to do to succeed in life.

On Friday, their roles will be reversed. Kamaka, a Professional Fighters League featherweight semifinalist, will headline a mixed martial arts event for the first time. Kamaka (14-5-1) will face Brendan Loughnane (29-5) in the PFL playoffs at The Anthem in Washington, DC. The main event begins at 4 p.m. Hawaii time on ESPN Plus. A spot in the division championship is at stake.

What you need to know

  • Hawaii native Kai Kamaka III will face Britain's Brendan Loughnane in the PFL featherweight playoffs on Friday at The Anthem in Washington, DC. The main event begins at 4 p.m. Hawaii time.

  • It is the first time in his career that the 29-year-old Kamaka will headline a card

  • Kamaka, a Las Vegas resident from Pearl City, is two wins away from the $1 million prize for the PFL season division champion

  • Kamaka and his cousin Ray Cooper III will compete on the same card for the first time; Cooper will face Mukhamed Burkhamov of Russia in a welterweight bout.

Kamaka and Cooper are on the same map, which has never happened before.

“It means a lot more than this,” Kamaka, a Kamehameha Schools graduate from Pearl City, said of Cooper's presence – even considering the $1 million prize at the end of the season.

It was a lifelong dream; it only became possible this year when Kamaka joined the PFL after stints with UFC and Bellator.

They trained together in Hawaii until Kamaka moved to Las Vegas with his family a few years ago. They built a bond that was just as strong – maybe even stronger – than that of their siblings, having followed the same path in life. Both fathers had a combat background.

“We should be brothers. We are that close,” said Kamaka.

Kamaka defeated Bubba Jenkins and Pedro Carvalho by decision to reach this point in the PFL season. The experienced Cooper (25-10), a two-time PFL champion last season, appeared in Kamaka's corner in both of his fights with the organization in Chicago and Sioux Falls, SD.

Kamaka and Loughnane made the 145-pound weight for their fight on Thursday. As before, Kamaka trained in Las Vegas to prepare for the fight and arrived in Washington on Sunday.

This fight is the most exciting that 29-year-old Kamaka has ever experienced in his career. And as the end of the season approaches, the prize money of one million dollars will increase.

“I'm worried about the title,” Kamaka insisted. “I'm not worried because there's no money. The money is for my wife. I want the belt. I want the PFL number one featherweight fight next to my name.”

“I believe (Loughnane) is the man of the PFL. Luckily I get to fight him on the way to the title.”

Loughnane, 34, from Manchester, England, showcases a British style of boxing and also has a 2-0 record in the PFL this season.

“He has a style that suits him, but I feel like I have everything I need to win this fight,” Kamaka said.

With Cooper's fight against Russian Mukhamed Berkhamov, who is not going into the playoffs, coming at the end of the preliminary rounds, Kamaka is not sure if Cooper will join him in his corner again, but he is sure he will be close by, which will be a comfort to him.

Brian McInnis reports on the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.

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