After an outstanding performance at the Oceania Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts Championships, Samoa’s very own Mac Papalii, is eyeing a title fight at the Intercontinental Championship.

Only a month after his gold medal fight in the GAMMA championships, Papalii has not stopped training with the goal of attaining the Intercontinental Championship title of his own.

Papalii will represent Samoa against one of New Zealand’s top fighters, Bob Dhcamad Armstrong at the World Kickboxing Network (WKN) Born to Fight Tournament on 23 September 2023 at the ABA Stadium in Auckland.

Armstrong was in action last November. After going a full five-round distance with Lapa Halangahu, he came out the winner while claiming the WKN super cruiserweight title, by split decision.

At the upcoming event, the New Zealand fighter is set for a five-rounder with the WKN MMA light heavyweight title on the line.

Papalii believes in his hard work and will use that as well as his height and reach advantage against his opponent Armstrong. He also believes that his hard work and dedication to his everyday training will make up for any lack of skill in the ring.

Another champion representing Samoa is Anthony Vitale from the Oliver MMA South Auckland gym and his opponent, Hayellom Tesfaye also fights out of New Zealand from the King's Academy gym.

Vitale had also represented Samoa in the GAMMA Oceania Championships in June where he secured a gold medal in his division for Samoa. He is also one of three fighters nominated by GAMMA – Samoa to fight in the prestigious ONE Championship’s ONE Lumpinee.

This will be an exciting matchup between Oceania’s two best strikers throwing punches this coming September.

Tesfaye is also one of two nominations made by GAMMA – New Zealand to fight in the ONE Lumpinee at the end of this year.