Tag: UFC Hawaii

Dana White rules out potential Hawaii event for the UFC in the future: ‘We can’t get it done’

Dana White rules out UFC Hawaii event in the future Max HollowayFollowing years of growth and a world tour of unique destinations that have hosted UFC events, Dana White still does not foresee Hawaii as a contender. The UFC certainly has not shied away from going state-to-state each year and giving many American fans the opportunity to watch the iconic promotion in person. White claims that […]

Dana White rules out UFC Hawaii event in the future Max Holloway

Following years of growth and a world tour of unique destinations that have hosted UFC events, Dana White still does not foresee Hawaii as a contender.

The UFC certainly has not shied away from going state-to-state each year and giving many American fans the opportunity to watch the iconic promotion in person.

White claims that Hawaii has been a longtime destination he has attempted to visit, but it is not as easy as fans may assume, while addressing the issue following UFC Kansas City.

“If you think back to the days with me and the Fertitta brothers, we always wanted to do an event in Hawaii… Everybody wants to do the fight in Hawaii,” said White in Kansas City on Saturday. “We could just never get a deal done in Hawaii. I don’t see it happening. And you hear me, man. We’re going to Africa, we’re going to places people would never imagine. But we can’t get Hawaii done.”

Throughout the years, the UFC has generated some of Hawaii’s most iconic athletes of all time, and they have spoken out in support of finally hosting an event.

Former lightweight champion BJ Penn went above and beyond, going as far as promising ‘three UFC events a year’ if he was elected as governor of Hawaii.

Hawaii favorite, Max Holloway headlined UFC Kansas City

Former featherweight champion Max Holloway has also passionately campaigned for a homecoming event.

The UFC veteran was once again victorious on Saturday night against the dangerous Englishman Arnold Allen.

To Holloway’s misfortune, a fighter who takes pride in his home and described the significance of a Hawaii event several times in the past, it sounds like all hope may once again go back to square one.

Although a silver lining, in this case, may be how Hawaii introduced Senate Bill 1027, a bill seeking to initiate a new combat sports commission through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). 

Senator Lorraine Inouye believes the bill could finally persuade the UFC to land in Hawaii.

White has made it clear in the past that he wants to give Hawaii fans the event they’ve been longing for, but he has questioned the state’s motivation and lack of desire to come to an agreement with the UFC.

As for Holloway, he may have just catapulted himself back into title contention in the near future, and the MMA community can be sure that he’ll be hoping for a change of setting before he retires.

B.J. Penn Wouldn’t Mind Competing at UFC Hawaii

B.J. Penn won’t beg for it, but he wouldn’t be opposed to a bout on UFC Hawaii. Penn last saw action back in June 2017. He dropped a majority decision to Dennis Siver. It was “The Prodigy’s” fifth straight loss. He hasn&#8…

B.J. Penn won’t beg for it, but he wouldn’t be opposed to a bout on UFC Hawaii. Penn last saw action back in June 2017. He dropped a majority decision to Dennis Siver. It was “The Prodigy’s” fifth straight loss. He hasn’t won a bout since Nov. 2010. Penn recently said he doesn’t plan on […]

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Max Holloway Taunts Conor McGregor Over ‘King of Chicken’ Ad

On Monday Conor McGregor inked a new deal with Burger King and took to social media with a new ad campaign where he calls himself the “undisputed champ champ” and a chicken sandwich as the “undisputed spicy champ.” Twitter &#822…

On Monday Conor McGregor inked a new deal with Burger King and took to social media with a new ad campaign where he calls himself the “undisputed champ champ” and a chicken sandwich as the “undisputed spicy champ.” Twitter “Beef” The Undisputed Champ Champ and the Undisputed Spicy Champ #spicycrispychickensandwich @burgerking #ad pic.twitter.com/cd9yR0SgHe — Conor […]

The post Max Holloway Taunts Conor McGregor Over ‘King of Chicken’ Ad appeared first on MMA News.

UFC 137 Press Conference Notes: ‘TUF Brazil’, UFC’s Hawaii Debut, Silva vs. Sonnen II + More


(“Don’t call me homey, brah.” “Don’t call me brah, homey.” / For more photos from the presser, visit Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)

A lot of interesting developments coming out of yesterday’s “UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz” press conference…

— UFC President Dana White confirmed that the first international edition of The Ultimate Fighter will be in Brazil, not the Philippines as previously reported. White described TUF Brazil as “a done deal,” though other details, including its host and where it will take place, haven’t been locked down yet. The series will air in Brazil, and possibly on FUEL TV in North America. White also said that the UFC will be actively working on booking “as many [events] as we possibly can” in Brazil.

— Meanwhile, the UFC is also working on putting together their first event in Hawaii, which is slated for 2012, and could be held at an outdoor venue. In the past, the UFC had been hesitant to promote a show in Hawaii due to an exorbitant promoters’ tax the state required, but that situation was later “fixed”, and rumors of a UFC show at the Aloha Bowl have circulated for the past two years.

— While only the main event is guaranteed airtime during the one-hour UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Santos broadcast on November 12th, Dana White confirmed that the entire supporting card will be viewable on Facebook and FOX.com. Notably, that includes the possible #1 lightweight contender match between Clay Guida and Ben Henderson.


(“Don’t call me homey, brah.” “Don’t call me brah, homey.” / For more photos from the presser, visit Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)

A lot of interesting developments coming out of yesterday’s “UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz” press conference…

— UFC President Dana White confirmed that the first international edition of The Ultimate Fighter will be in Brazil, not the Philippines as previously reported. White described TUF Brazil as “a done deal,” though other details, including its host and where it will take place, haven’t been locked down yet. The series will air in Brazil, and possibly on FUEL TV in North America. White also said that the UFC will be actively working on booking “as many [events] as we possibly can” in Brazil.

— Meanwhile, the UFC is also working on putting together their first event in Hawaii, which is slated for 2012, and could be held at an outdoor venue. In the past, the UFC had been hesitant to promote a show in Hawaii due to an exorbitant promoters’ tax the state required, but that situation was later “fixed”, and rumors of a UFC show at the Aloha Bowl have circulated for the past two years.

— While only the main event is guaranteed airtime during the one-hour UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Santos broadcast on November 12th, Dana White confirmed that the entire supporting card will be viewable on Facebook and FOX.com. Notably, that includes the possible #1 lightweight contender match between Clay Guida and Ben Henderson.

— Has Chael Sonnen successfully trash-talked his way into a rematch with Anderson Silva on Super Bowl weekend? As White explained at the UFC 137 press-conference, “I am meeting with (Anderson’s camp on Saturday)…You know Chael’s position. And I think Anderson’s position is really the same as Chael’s. Anderson’s really pissed off about the stuff that Chael has said.” When asked if the fight could be set up for Super Bowl weekend, White replied, “I think it would make sense, yeah.”

— And get this: Strikeforce might actually survive into 2012. Said DW: “I met with Showtime yesterday and I had a great meeting with them. I’m jumping in [to the negotiations]. Lorenzo Fertitta and I divide and conquer. We’re both so busy and we’re working on so much stuff, so to get this deal moving we needed the kinder, gentler side of the UFC there in the beginning. Now, I’m going to go in there and close it…We had a great conversation. We moved the ball forward and we’ll see what happens. There is no deal done. I just think we had a great meeting… We have a chance that Strikeforce lives.”

Considering that Strikeforce has already been raided for its best fighters — Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, and Alistair Overeem, with Gilbert Melendez on the way — it doesn’t seem like Strikeforce would be anything other than a feeder league. But with Bellator on the rise, diluting the MMA talent pool could be the end goal in itself.