Yancy Medeiros focused on giving back to Hawaii at Bellator 279, a homecoming 13 years in the making

HONOLULU – August 2009, that’s the last time Yancy Medeiros fought inside the cage in his home state.

Saturday on the Bellator 279 prelims, Medeiros (15-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will end his drought when he fights Emmanuel Sanchez (20-7 MMA, 12-6 BMMA) at Neal S. Blaidsell Arena – a special moment for the 34-year-old lightweight fighter.

“I’m embracing it whole-heartedly,” Medeiros told reporters including MMA Junkie at a news conference Wednesday. “Everything that’s happened and waking up, it’s just meant to be, like when I first started getting out there and representing. If there’s anything I wanted to do in a fight after representing, it was getting here and fighting. Now, this is my opportunity. That’s why I feel like everything happens for a reason, bruh. I’m here and I’m just happy, bruh. I’m just to fight on Saturday. I earned to give myself the best performance I can and I want to give that back to Hawaii.”

Medeiros enters Bellator on a one-fight deal, something he told MMA Junkie earlier this week he believes to essentially be a tryout. Despite the stakes, Medeiros is focused on one thing above all else: giving back to his community with an entertaining scrap.

“I haven’t fought here (in a while). Ever since I started fighting outside of Hawaii, I’ve always wanted to just come back and give back to the fans. I’m happy that he took this opportunity even going up a weight class. If there’s anything I’m expecting, it’s his high cardio and easy weight cut. We can definitely have a good fight April 23. I’m going to show him all my Aloha.”

Everything has come full circle for Medeiros. He embarked on an international journey of pinnacle-level competition with stops in Strikeforce and the UFC. His Zuffa promotional tenure is over, but he’ll finally get to live out a Hawaiian kid’s dream in his first post-UFC bout.

“Growing up, fighting in the Blaisdell or competing in the Blaisdell was the pinnacle of what was happening in the sport,” Medeiros said. “When I was growing up, watching all these MMA fights, the biggest ones were in the Blaisdell. I never got to fight in the Blaisdell. April 23 is going to be my first time and I’m going to represent Hawaii to the fullest.”

Bellator 279 takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaidsell Center with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.