The Return of an OG
After contemplating retirement, Wesley Drain is back—and he’s more locked in than ever. The season one veteran makes his return at Power Slap XII on March 7, stepping up to face Keali’i Kanekoa in a high-stakes middleweight showdown.
Drain admits that at one point, he considered walking away from the sport.
“I really didn’t know how I was going to feel when I thought about retiring. I figured I could just walk away without ever truly accomplishing my goal. But deep down, I knew I had to check that off the list. I still want that belt,” Drain said.
Now, he’s back with a renewed mindset and a fresh approach, looking to re-establish himself as one of the division’s top contenders.
Ring Rust? Not a Chance
Drain has been away from Power Slap competition, but he’s stayed active, competing in MMA, car jiu-jitsu, and other combat sports. Some might wonder if ring rust could be a factor, but he doesn’t see it that way.
“Man, being in Power Slap since day one, the rules have changed every time. It’s just about adapting. I’m not worried about any rust. The guy I used to be is dead. This is a new version of me. My health is better, my mindset is better, and I’m just ready to sleep somebody,” Drain explained.
His mental and physical transformation is evident, and he believes he’s in the best shape of his life.
“I feel like ninety percent of this is mental. If you’re not mentally locked in, you’re not going to win. I’m locked in. I’m happy, healthy, and the best version of myself. I’m here to put people to sleep,” he added.
Facing The Chief: Keali’i Kanekoa
Standing across from Drain at Power Slap XII is Keali’i “The Chief” Kanekoa, one of the most explosive strikers in the division. Since joining Power Slap, Kanekoa has shown serious knockout power, racking up impressive finishes and quickly rising up the ranks.
While Drain respects Kanekoa’s power, he’s not overly impressed by his résumé.
“He’s got a good pop on him, but he also had a pretty bad clubbing against Brandon [Rhodes] last time. I mean, he’s really not that impressive to me. What’s he had, like three fights? One or two KOs? And I’ve seen him sleep before. If you sleep like that, you don’t deserve the belt. I’m going to sleep him worse than Darren did,” Drain stated.
Kanekoa is coming off a dominant performance and is looking to continue his climb toward title contention. But Drain believes season one veterans are just built differently.
“The guys who came in during season one, we came from a different place. We weren’t all athletes at the time, but we were tough. Now, you see guys like Brandon, Isaiah, and Luke who are serious athletes. But when we started, we came from rougher places. We had to learn and evolve,” he explained.
That old-school, gritty mentality is something Drain carries with him, and he plans to show it against Kanekoa.
The Road to the Title
Drain has big plans for his return. He’s not just here to fight—he’s here to take over.
“I’m still gunning for the belt. And I see Brandon [Bordeaux] winning against Isaiah [Quinones]. If that happens, I want Brandon next. And after that, I want to move up to 205. I want to be the biggest, strongest version of myself ever,” Drain said.
He’s bulking up, adding size and strength, and looking beyond just one fight.
“I don’t want to be small anymore. I want to walk around at two-thirty, be in the best shape of my life, and run through this division before moving up,” he added.
Message for Kanekoa
If Kanekoa is watching, Drain has a simple and direct message:
“The past me would have talked a lot of shit. But it’ll be quick. One and done, buddy.”
Don’t Blink at Power Slap XII
With Drain’s hunger to reclaim his spot and Kanekoa’s momentum as a rising contender, this fight is shaping up to be a must-watch.
Will the veteran Drain remind everyone why season one strikers were built different, or will Kanekoa continue his climb toward title contention?
Find out on March 7, live from Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
🔥 Who do you think wins: Drain or Kanekoa? Drop your predictions below!