LIHU‘E — There will still be a small amount of tickets available when doors to the Ainofea Mayhem at the Mansion open at 6:30 p.m. today at the Kilohana Lu‘au Pavilion. “We added a hundred extra seats and tickets are
LIHU‘E — There will still be a small amount of tickets available when doors to the Ainofea Mayhem at the Mansion open at 6:30 p.m. today at the Kilohana Lu‘au Pavilion.
“We added a hundred extra seats and tickets are still selling well,” said Vance Pascua of Ainofea. “We still have a small number of all section seats still available, but people will have to get here quick before it sells out.”
Ticket prices are $25 for general admission, $35 for ringside seats and $50 for VIP tickets and were being sold Friday night during the weigh-in for the fighters.
Among those fighting, Kaua‘i’s own Bobby Nagao will take the ring for the first time in the Scrapa-sponsored 135 Pound Amateur Mixed Martial Arts event, facing Jr. Casem of the Maui Martial Arts whose contingent of fighters and supporters made an impact when they arrived in their special white fight supporter wear.
Another pair of New Breed fighters, Tyson and Nalu Hawelu are also on the card, Tyson fighting in the 145 pound event while brother Nalu is on another 145 pound event, both Kaua‘i fighters facing combatants from Maui.
At least six Maui fighters were among those being weighed in, including the 135 pound event, which Pascua described as a “Makule” event because both fighters were over 40 years young.
Thirteen spots are on the fight card, which Pascua described as being a real “class act,” including two belt matches — the 170 Pounds Pro Championship Belt sponsored by Sherdco/DMK Welding and the 145 Pound Pro MMA Main Event sponsored by Kaua‘i Auto Repair and Monster Energy.
Maki Pitolo of the West O‘ahu MMA will face Jason Camarillo of Action MMA for the Pro Championship belt with Kaua‘i native Eben Kaneshiro making the trip down from Oregon to meet Tyler Kahihikolo of the Wailuku Boxing Club in Maui for the Main Event.
“When the doors open, it’ll be 14 years that we’ve done Mayhem at the Mansion,” Pascua said. “During that time, the event has grown with more fighters and promoters supporting the event to where the card features a lot of fighters with class.”
Ainofea is no stranger to organizing strong fight events, having been the first on Kaua‘i to host a women’s kickboxing event, a first-ever women’s MMA, a first-ever youth kickboxing championship, and more, states the Kaua‘i Festivals website.
But with all fight cards, matches are subject to change, Pascua noted an accident just 30 minutes prior to the weigh-in forced a last-minute change to the card.
Due to the fact the fight takes place this evening, whatever remaining tickets will be available at the door, organizers said.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
