(The international symbol for "Bring me two more bowls of poi.")
Though formal MMA regulation began in Hawaii earlier this month, the UFC had no plans to host an event there due to the high taxes that the state demands from fight promoters. Luckily, things are about to change in a big way. As UFC prez Dana White told FiveOuncesofPain:
Hawaii’s other venues might be too small, but the Aloha Stadium is freakin’ gigantic. With a 50,000+ capacity, it could theoretically host the most well-attended UFC event in history. (UFC 97, held at Montreal’s Bell Centre, currently holds the record with 21,451 fans.) Of course, at least one mega-fight would need to be booked for the UFC to roll the dice on an outdoor stadium show. If BJ Penn gets by Kenny Florian next month, could we see him take on Diego Sanchez on his home turf?
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Comments
Mon, 07/20/09 - 12:24
rvca gang leader BJ Penn
Mon, 07/20/09 - 12:43
Well, maybe if you didn't go around punching people in the nuts... No, I get the same crap whenever I try to link a humorous picture in the comments section. Potential Spam. By the time the Admins get around to approving it, the joke is lost.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 12:48
I would love to see Penn-Sanchez in Hawaii... that crowd would be so intense...
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:02
This smells like UFC "fight-picking-setting-themselves-up-for-a-fail" all over again. You know. Like when the UFC thought Chuck would get past Rashad. Oops. If Penn loses to K-Flo, this will screw their Hawaii plans until they can set up a Penn vs K-Flo rematch. It'll take 'em a year to get around to that one. Then again, if Penn smashes Kenny, all systems go for Penn/Sanchez in Hawaii. And since that's what the UFC probably wants ...Florian KOs Penn in 4th round.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:04
Getting 50000+ for BJ vs. Sanchez? No offense to either, but good luck with that. Or any combination of men on the roster for that matter.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:10
Mike Milbury sez: "Getting 50000+ for BJ vs. Sanchez? No offense to either, but good luck with that." If they could set up as strong a card as they have for UFC 101 in Philly, I bet they could get around 30K for the event. Also, the ticket prices would have to be right.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:24
I've been to Aloha Stadium to watch the Pro Bowl one year. It's an outdoors arena and it's frickin' HUGE! So it would be weird to watch a ufc event there. I wonder if they would build a huge canopy over the cage in case it rained.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:32
BOSTON
Mon, 07/20/09 - 01:55
rashad earned liddell, and if noone has noticed yet UFC seats arent for us. we get fight nights.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 02:08
Gosh dang does this ever put pressure on BJ to beat Ken-Flo. Maybe, just maybe this will light the fire under Penn's ass to back up his "Hawaiin Pride". Would the UFC really host an event in Hawaii without a huge fight involving BJ? Doubtfull. If anything look for some kind of "BJ fights for revenge scenerio" after Ken Flo smears his nut butter on BJ's upper lip.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 02:57
@ Irish - that's another thing the ticket prices to these events are enormous. I sit at BWW's and watch on a massive screen with wings and friends for a grand total of $18-25, while the camera basically let's me see the fight from the viewpoint of sitting on the cage.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 03:11
Guys. I think BJ is trying to tell us he's going for 4 feet next week.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 03:31
@ u02jgc9 "Is there a massive MMA following in Hawaii, or am I missing something??" From what I understand, there's a pretty strong following for MMA on the islands. On top of that, BJ Penn is the third most famous Hawaiian; next to Don Ho (#1 and top P4P Hawaiian) and Barack Obama (He's from Hawaii...right?...or was that Somalia...I get confused.). Are people gonna fly there to see this fight? Some, but not as many as if the fight were state-side. And yeah, ticket prices will make all the difference. With this recession, the Hawaiians are taking it in the pants...big time. If it's not bananas, pineapples or whiney fighters named Penn, chances are that EVERYTHING that you need to exist in Hawaii needs to be transported in. With tourism down and unemployment up, folks are hurtin' on the big island. The UFC would probably pack the house, but they would need to drop the ticket price. Also, it's an outdoor event, so that kinda changes the seating dynamic.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 04:17
If they gave away free cans of Spam, that place would be packed
Mon, 07/20/09 - 05:30
i would pay to watch this fight...on tv. unless i won some sorta raffle where i accidently ran into gina carano and then...i digress. it's still better than franklin vs hendo II.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 07:47
An event at Aloha Stadium would be awesome, has there ever been an outdoor UFC event before? The only problem would be if they actually do sell out, people would pretty much be paying to watch the fight on a megatron, its not like an indoor arena where all of the seats are within viewing distance, it's a football stadium...
Mon, 07/20/09 - 08:20
The only way Penn will be in a fight at that stadium will be from the fan seats with HAL, and chances are HAL might make BJ tap. Kenny will retire the bum.
Mon, 07/20/09 - 09:39
@ Old_Blad_and_Irish My old Cage Potato friend, Sig bet on your prediction? I take Baby Jay. Lemme know. Start a thread in the forums, I'll highlight it. : )
Mon, 07/20/09 - 11:12
uh Penn-Sanchez... not a chance in hell it would fill a stadium. but next summer silva-st. pierre... now that could fill a stadium. biggest superfight in history. number one and number three p4p. duh. forest doesnt even think he will beat silva, so its set in hawaii for next july with silva's belt up for grabs. i want a shirt
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