MMA fighter Fau Vake, a popular member of City Kickboxing, died on May 23, days after an assault by a group of men in downtown Auckland. Vake’s friend and teammate Israel Adesanya, and others from his gym, have said that Vake was the victim of a ‘coward punch’ and that this is what caused his fatal injuries.
Four men have been charged with offences in relation to the death of Vake. A 30-year-old man, whose name has been suppressed by court order, has been charged with manslaughter. Siofilisi Paongo, 29, has been charged with common assault and injuring with intent to injure.