Fau Vake

The 25-year-old rising MMA fighter died in hospital after he was hit from behind on Symonds St on May 16.

RNZ reports four men appeared at the Auckland High Court on Wednesday in front of a packed public gallery of Vake's friends, family and teammates, including UFC star Dan Hooker.

One man, Ofa Folau, pleaded guilty to two assault charges, and a sentencing date has been set down for August.

However the three others, one of whom is charged with manslaughter, entered not guilty pleas through their lawyers.

Twenty-five year-old Fau Vake, is a fighter at City Kickboxing, is in a coma after being punched from behind in Symonds Street during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Vake is one of the main training partners of UFC champion Israel Adesanya, who is leading the call for tougher laws for such attacks.

Four people have been charged by the police in relation to the incident.

City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman told Morning Report the law needs to change.