Bay Area MMA fighter goes from homeless shelter to TV bout

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When Carl Seumanutafa, born in Samoa, moved to San Francisco when he was 12 years old, he had thoughts of Pamela Anderson bouncing in his head.

“I was thinking America was ‘Baywatch,’ especially California,” the mixed martial arts fighter said Thursday. “We arrived at Hunters Point at nighttime, and I remember the view. The bay, the ocean, the lights, Oakland in the distance. I went to sleep very excited. ... And then I woke up.”

No, Hunters Point was not Venice Beach or Malibu.

Seumanutafa, 33, had a tough childhood, “full of a lot of street fights and bouncing from house to house,” and has overcome some tough times as an adult as well. He spent the last half of 2015 with his family in a homeless shelter in San Mateo. He now hopes his fortunes are turning, as he has a nationally televised fight Friday night.

Seumanutafa (10-6) is fighting former UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione (9-5) on the Bellator 157 card in St. Louis, carried on Spike TV.

“This is the biggest fight of my career,” said Seumanutafa, who won his Bellator debut with a second-round knockout in January. “For me, it’s a suicide mission. Matt is the big name. All the pressure is on him.”

Seumanutafa has had more than his share of pressure, struggling to make ends meet with his wife and two children. After living in cheap motels in Antioch until the cash ran out, Seumanutafa moved his familty to the homeless shelter for seven months.

Carl Seumanutafa, who was in a San Mateo homeless shelter in 2015, is an MMA fighter. Carl Seumanutafa, who was in a San Mateo homeless shelter in 2015, is an MMA fighter. Photo: Bellator Photo: Bellator Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Bay Area MMA fighter goes from homeless shelter to TV bout 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

His 5-year-old son, Tamatoa, and 4-year-old daughter, Eliza-Andra, kept him smiling through the rough time.

“They thought they were on a fun adventure,” Seumanutafa said. “Life is tough ... and my kids smile ... and they motivate me to give them more than I had as a kid.”

He has found work as a personal trainer and as a bouncer, and the family now has a place in Martinez.

“And here I am fighting on TV,” Seumanutafa said. “Crazy. It’s like a TV show or movie.”

Better than the one with the red swimsuits.

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur