Hawaii native Federico Vento erupts after fan fuels fire at Maverick MMA 7
Hawaii native Federico Vento entered the Maverick MMA heptagon Saturday night with a lot on his mind. The 22-year old professional mixed martial artist left his home state approximately a week after much of the region had been destroyed as a result of the Kīlauea volcanic eruption so that he could compete in a pro MMA bout in Allentown, PA.
On May 3, several lava vents opened in the lower Puna area, downrift from the summit. The new volcanic episode was accompanied by an earthquake registering at 6.9 on the Richter scale. Nearly 2,000 residents were evacuated from Leilani Estates and the adjacent Lanipuna Gardens development. By May 9, 2018 the eruption had destroyed 27 houses in the Leilani Estates subdivision.
Vento made his pro debut for Maverick MMA in Pennsylvania in 2017, losing to Tommy Espinose by way of second round technical knockout. Aside from the tremendous heart the fighter showed inside the cage that night, the one thing that stood out even more was that he had paid for his own travel from Hawaii to Pennsylvania to compete. His love for the sport and MMA competition drove Vento to fly thousands of miles without friends, family, and or coaches.
“Ferocious” Federico Vento demanded a shot to redeem himself and returned to east coast once again. This past Saturday night at Maverick MMA 7, Vento stepped back inside the cage against the hometown favorite “The Panamaniac” Eddie Alvarez.
Once Vento entered the cage doors an unruly fan shouted “F**k Hawaii.”
That didn’t sit well with Vento. He darted out the gate at Alvarez and at just 2:05 into the fight, the Hawaii native made the fan eat crow. “Ferocious” had submitted Alvarez in front of his fans by way of rear-naked choke.
He then went to Instagram the next day to send a message to the guy who ignited a fire within.
“This message goes to the guy in the crowd yelling ” F*** Hawaii, Hawaii sucks” and all that other profanity, I hope I made you eat your words. I hope you feel like a loser right now. You have no idea how bad it hurt me to leave my family back home in Hawaii for this long while my island is being trampled by natural disasters. I came here to put on a show for all of you, not to disrespect anyone, you successful got under my skin and made me upset and I still went in there and did what I had to do after you tried to get me all worked up. You lit a fire under my ass. Before you disrespect my home, think about what we are all going through down there as lava literally destroys our families and friends homes. I hope I put on for Hawaii. #PAvsHI”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bis1vV0HhyE/?taken-by=ferocious125
Federico Vento plans to make a return to the Keystone state and continue fighting for Maverick MMA.
