posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 6:18 PM   0 Comments

Finally got to meet UFC Ring Girl Arianny Celeste

This weekend was a blast. I got to see Mayhem, who I haven't seen in months, and meet UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste for the first time. Arianny came down to Hawaii for the BJ Penn vs. GSP press conference and she even blogged about my question to Penn, GSP and Dana White..."Boxers or Briefs?" But I've never met her in person until Friday night. She is very down-to-earth and humble.

Todd Tanaka and Jimmy Naks joined in the fun as a dozen of us went to Ka (the old E&O Trading) and Paparazzi (the old Brew Moon) at Ward Center in Honolulu. While we were at Ka, Mayhem thought it would be funny to get up on the gogo dancer stage and dance with his friend. The security had to chase Mayhem and Tiki off the stage and out from behind the bar. It was pretty funny.

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 4:56 PM   0 Comments

Remembering Mask...

I met him once. It was on Maui at the second fight I ever photographed ringside. He came because he was filming his TapouT show on Big Island's Albert Manners. I remember how much he stood out with his face paint and mannerisms. I told him "hi," introduced myself, and chatted for a bit. That was all. That was the only conversation I ever had with the man who 'believed.'

He doesn't know it. And I won't ever be able to tell him, now that he's passed. But he has inspired me beyond words can say. It's been a rough road for me to start this business, which was once a concept not even my mom believed I could achieve. It started out as my Master's project, and just an idea for a local MMA magazine because no one else had done it. I've always been a competitive person--being involved in softball, basketball, soccer, track, cross country, and gymnastic from a young age. So naturally, when I saw my guy friends watching MMA fights, I got more and more interested. I was drawn to the competitive nature of the sport, the physical contact, and the fact that anyone at any given time, could win. Be it an armbar, rear-naked choke or knock out.

My love for the sport grew, and I tried to learn more about fighters here in Hawaii. But there was a lack of information out there. No magazines, no TV shows, and just one or two internet sites that promoted upcoming events. I wanted to offer more. I thought I could. And then I did.

Mask has always believed when no one else believed. I may not have been laughed at as much as he was, but I did experience many doubters, negative people, and competitors that just want to see you fail. Because mixed martial arts is such a male-dominated industry, it was hard to get guys to accept the fact that I wasn't a ring girl or a fighter groupie. I was just a writer, with a dream, with a passion, with another take on how the local MMA industry could be.

I think Mask has helped MMA get to the level of recognition it is at today. I think TapouT and MMA are synonymous. You can't think one without the other. It's nice to see someone who started with no money...just a dream, see it realized. But more importantly, Mask touched so many lives. Whether it be fighters, fans, business people...he touched them. He touched me. More than anything, what I've learned from Mask is that when you have a dream, visualize it, believe it, and make other people believe. If you don't believe in yourself or your company first, then no one else will. And when you love what you do, you'll do the job a whole lot better. He and I both share a love for MMA and a desire to help fighters reach their highest potential. Many of us play a different role in the MMA industry, but we are what keeps the sport growing. Be it fighters, trainers, cornermen, media, promoters, ring girls, cutmen, business people, and fans. We all play a part. I'm excited to see what the future holds for the sport.

And on this day, I honor Mask and the life he lived. RIP 6/23/63 - 3/11/10.

If you don't know anything about Mask...here are a few sites to help you learn more about the person he is and the business he was so passionate about.

This interview inspired me so much. It was his last interview before he passed.

If you want to purchase Mask tribute memorabilia, CLICK HERE.

This mini-documentary ("Underdogs") about TapouT is very telling. Check it out.

Here are some quotes by Mask.

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 12:55 AM   0 Comments

Bring on the MAYHEM!

Looks like I will be out on the town this weekend with a buddy I haven't seen since last summer. Now if only I could get Miss Rara down here on vacation, oh how we'd have a great time! The beach is calling your name my friend. Oh and the local boys too!

Like I said in my headline...bring on the MAYHEM!

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 10:53 PM   0 Comments

Destiny fights: ball adjusting, broken toe and some hard knocks

I attended the Destiny "Fast N Furious" fights this Saturday. My intern/reporter Nicole and I got to Level 4 Nightclub around 4 p.m. The fights didn't start til 5:30 p.m. Destiny promoter Jay Bolos told me that there were some hang ups with fighters not making weight the day before and a ton of injuries happening to fighters just days before the fights. So while there were suppose to be closer to 25 bouts, there ended up being 17 bouts. But I have to say the 17 fights were entertaining.

There was a broken toe, couple fighters giving up and not coming out for the second round to fight, some bloody bouts, some great TKOs, and in one fight a fighter didn't use a jock strap and his cup kept falling out. It's not the funnest thing to see someone up close and personal adjusting their balls, especially from the angle that I was at. But it made for some comic relief.

Congratulations to Mr. Berger and Mr. Santiago. Berger won Destiny's heavyweight title by rear-naked choking Paea Paongo and Santiago's punches just proved too much for Kyle Kaahanui.

My night was also nicely interrupted by friends buying me shots to celebrate my 26th birthday. Thanks guys!

I'm really excited for the Destiny fights on Maui on March 27th. Jay told me tickets are moving real fast on Maui. Exciting!

For more pictures of the fight CLICK HERE.

For full fight results CLICK HERE.

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 9:22 PM   0 Comments

Check out Uncle Jesse's MMA Place for all your Maui MMA needs

I'm looking forward to enjoying some time on Maui soon. Family, friends, and of course....MMA. I'll be covering the Destiny "No Ka 'Oi 2" fights on March 27 at War Memorial. If you haven't planned to go to the fights yet, I suggest you put it in your calendar. My boy Eddie P. will be rematching Ricky Wallace in the main event.

Also, if you're on Maui and need to get some MMA gear or clothing, go and visit my friends Helaman and Rosie over at Uncle Jesse's MMA Place in Wailuku. For store hours and directions call (808) 244-9054.

See you all in Maui for the fights!

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 9:44 PM   0 Comments

Brad Tavares makes The Ultimate Fighter 11 cast

posted by UPROAR HAWAII @ 1:39 PM   0 Comments