“Rest in Peace” – UFC Pioneer & ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Actor Taylor Wily’s Tragic Passing Leaves MMA World in Mourning

It’s indeed a sad day in the MMA community as a pioneer breathed his last. Taylor Wily, a pioneer in MMA and one of the fighters featured on the UFC’s first-ever pay-per-view, passed away at the age of 56. As the word about the sad news got out, a lot of MMA and Wily fans expressed their sorrow on social media.

At this point in time, the reason behind Taylor Wily’s death still hasn’t been public, as his family has preferred to keep that information away from the public. Nevertheless, his sister, Alyssa, would pay him a tribute along with the rest of the family. Meanwhile, Born in Hawaii, Taylor Wily actually started off the professional combat sports in Sumo Wrestling, where made a name for himself.

In that sport, he went by the name ‘Takamikuni’ and fought representing the same stable as Akebono Taro, who also passed away recently. Moreover, Sumo wrestling seemed to be the perfect sport for Taylor Wiley since he successfully amassed a highly respectable record of 57-27-14. Thereafter, the jump mixed martial arts would happen and the Hawaiian legend would make his way to the UFC.

UFC 1, a one-of-a-kind show where fighters from different martial arts disciplines fight to be the best, was a novelty in the early ’90s and a lot of people, like we already know, condemned that sport. Well, that did not seem too big of a deal for Taylor Wily. After leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1992, he would get featured in his first and only MMA fight in the pay-per-view and would face Gerard Gordeau.

The fight did not turn out the way he wanted as he lost, and then he would make his most significant career jump into the movie industry. He worked in movies like ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshal’ and TV shows like, ‘Hawaii Five-0’ and ‘Magnum PI’, earning praise from viewers. Also, in the wake of his passing, fans have come out to share some kind words for the Hawaiian legend.

Taylor Wily’s death saddens fans

The first thing that fans wanted to clear out was the fact that he really smashed his acting work. While the fans expressed their sorrow about the news of his death, they mentioned that he’ll always be remembered for his work in ‘Hawaii Five-0’. The show, which went on for a decade with a staggering 10 seasons, is a cult classic with fans. It gave them the memorable character of ‘Kamekona’ which was portrayed by Wily in 171 episodes of the show. They stated, “He was amazing actor he will be missed,” “Rest in peace Taylor Wily. I loved watching him on Hawaii five O,” and, “Oh no. Rest in Peace big guy. We always enjoyed your talents on our favourite Hawaii shows.”

The fans have promised to never forget the memories Taylor Wily gave them over the years, be it in combat sports or in the movie industry, and would also mention that he had a very likable personality. Having the physical stature that he had, with a 6-foot-tall and 400-pound frame, would undoubtedly make anybody nervous. But guess what? Wily was known for having a rather tender demeanor. The fans added, “Missed and Never Forgotten~ RIP dear Taylor,” and, “Extremely sad to find out he passed. What a wonderful person he was.”

Moreover, Taylor Wily was a fan favorite for his acting chops. So when the news of his passing came to the fore, fans just could not comprehend the untimely nature of his death. Moreover, they even tried to search for a legitimate source but ended up learning about it on X but the news was actually broken by his family as we’ve mentioned earlier. “Where did the info come from? I can’t find anything online.” “Very sad if true but I actually haven’t seen anything online that confirms he’s died.”

Surely, Taylor Wily has left such an impression among not only his family but also among fans that most people have only spoken highly of him. And although his MMA career was short-lived, he won many hearts from the other work he’s done. What are your favorite memories of the Hawaiian legend? Drop your comments below.