Full Name:
Loni Filimoehala.
Age:
28.
Where were you born?
Auckland, New Zealand.
Where do you live?
Brisbane.
Which gym do you train out of?
Gamebred Academy and Ignite Martial Arts.
Who are your coaches?
Jason Lonergan, Ryan Dunstan, Jake Lund.
What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
- Purple Belt in BJJ
- Master of Martial Arts Black Belt (being a Sick C**t)
- Three division MMA champion
- Lockdown Light Heavyweight Champion
- Lockdown Heavyweight Champion
- Ranked #6 in the IMMAF World Rankings
What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
I played rugby league growing up.
- Best Defensive Player (Under 9’s)
- Best Forward of the Year (Under 10, 11, 12, and 13) — Forest Lake Magpies, lessgoo.
When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
My first day of training was October 2014. I took a break, then came back in February 2015 and trained every day. I fought twice that year and didn’t do well, but trained hard all through 2016.
Still lost fights until 2017, when my little brother Jake passed away. I took 2017 off, then came back stronger in 2018 and trained harder than ever. I went on a four-fight win streak, competed in IMMAF, won multiple titles, and was meant to turn pro two years ago — but injuries set me back.
Short answer: I’ve been taking this seriously since 2018, but started training in 2014.
Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Being fit as f**k and pushing my limits. Plus, the harder I train, the more I get to eat. I love living life my way — doing what I want, when I want.
What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
I’m extremely physical, fast, and explosive — it’s in the Filimoehala bloodline. We’re warriors from Tonga.
My eyes and reaction timing are elite. Also, I’m a sick c**t grappler — a full-on wizard with wrestling.
How would you describe your fighting style?
Way too strong and too fast for anyone in my division. I’m very well-rounded, extremely aggressive, and can dominate anywhere, anytime.
What is your favourite sport and why?
MMA — it’s real-life warrior stuff. Fighting is one of the most important skills anyone can have, and it’s cool as hell to know who the best in the world is.
Rugby league was my favourite sport to play growing up, but I don’t really enjoy watching it now.
Who is your favourite athlete?
Conor McGregor, Greg Inglis, Brock Lesnar, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Joe Ofahengaue.
Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
Conor McGregor, Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Mike Tyson, Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou, Muhammad Mokaev.
What are your immediate and long-term goals?
- Immediate: Smash all these f**kwits in my division and become Eternal Champion.
- Long-term: Become the first Tongan UFC athlete. Become UFC Welterweight Champion and Middleweight Champion. Become a millionaire… then a billionaire.
When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
Expect me to go crazy and crash out. I’m a high-level athlete with high-level skills, but I don’t think like these other fighters. To me, it’s life or death — I ain’t f**king around.
How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
I’m going first. I’ll either punch the f**k out of him or rip his head off. I can win in 10 different ways — and it’ll be one of those 10 ways.
A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
If you don’t come to my fight, you fake as f**k.
Nah, just kidding — love you all. ❤️
Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @lontonomo
Watch Loni Filimoehala fight at Eternal MMA 95 on Saturday, May 3.