UFC’s first-ever fighter and prominent actor, Teila Tuli passes away at 56

Taylor Willy, sumo wrestler and American actor best known for his work on Hawaii Five-O and Magnum P.I., died on June 21, 2024, just days after his 56th birthday.

UFC’s first-ever fighter and prominent actor, Teila Tuli passes away at 56

Taylor Wily, pioneer sensation of UFC 1, passes away at 56 (Source: Instagram)

Taylor Wily was a one-time UFC fighter and one of the few Americans to field success in Japanese sumo. Willy was the literal pioneer of the sport, having fought at the first fight ever under the banner (UFC 1). He’d later transition to family-friendly comedic roles with a stint in an acting career. Sadly, KITV’s Island News in Wily’s home state of Hawaii reports his sudden passing.

Taylor Wily, aka Teila Tuli back in the day, rubbed shoulders with Hall of Famers Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie at @UFC30. At the 30th anniversary of UFC 1 this past November, Wily was on board the sit-down reunion gala. This was during “The Legends of UFC 1 | Fighters of the Roundtable.” Gerard Gordeau, Zane Frazier, and Art Jimmerson were also present.

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There were active talks of including ginormous presence like Mike Tyson at UFC 1. Gracie, an optimal grappler and submissions expert, was to face him; Willy proved a better choice. In the first quarterfinal of the first event in the promotion’s history – UFC 1 in Nov. 1993 – Wily (Tuli) faced a head kick KO in 26 seconds. The KO has become something of a piece of MMA lore. Wily lost three teeth, lodging it in Gordeau’s foot. Gordeau also fractured his hand.

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While not technically the first fight, this was the first broadcast from UFC 1. The boisterous knockout set the bar for many violent finishes in PPV events further down the line. It went to show that MMA, rather than UFC, wasn’t just about skill-to-skill showcasing. But rather a display of the fighting spirit. After the lone fight of his MMA career, Teila Tuli became a household name during his acting stint.

Aloha e ka hoa kahiko: The everlasting legacy of Taylor Wily

If it weren’t for Tuli’s imprint, North America’s largest MMA promotion might never have started. When tempers were boiling at the rules meeting before UFC 1 — he pitched in for the dangerous no-rules matchup.

Taylor Wily, aka Teila Tuli
Taylor Wily, aka Teila Tuli (Source: tvguide.com/staticflickr.com/nypost.com)

Despite incurring the first knockout in UFC history. his enigmatic presence kickstarted the standards of how beautifully unhinged yet systemic the sport could be. UFC has come a long way from the “No holds bar” days. Teila Tuli, with an “Azumazeki” record of 57-27-14, had much to contribute to that.

As early as 2013, Taylor Wily promoted BISAC’s 9th Annual Health and Wellness Recovery Day. He was mostly an actor, but the “Gentle Giant” from Hawaii had quite the social impact around him.

Like many others who transitioned to Hollywood, the Papa-bear-big Hawaiian was a series regular, with more than 170 episodes of the rebooted “Hawaii Five-0.” He made the recurring role of Kamekona Tupuola quite memorable. His son also played a small role in the hit CBS Show.

He also famously starred in the recent Hawaii-based reboot of “Magnum P.I.” His most famous reach and height to fame was opposite Jason Segel and Mila Kunis in the hit romantic comedy ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’.

With Wily, the original UFC 1 tournament eight are down to five. Patrick Smith and Kevin Rosier passed away in 2019 and 2015, respectively. However, the Hawaiian legend will stay on forever.

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