In 2009, Kipi Akana was looking for someone to partner with to showcase the fighting talent on this island. He had one guy in mind. The only person on the island with a Hawai‘i promoter’s license was John Rivera, who
In 2009, Kipi Akana was looking for someone to partner with to showcase the fighting talent on this island. He had one guy in mind.
The only person on the island with a Hawai‘i promoter’s license was John Rivera, who has over 10 years experience promoting fights, and he was Kipi’s man.
Two years later, they have established the Kaua’i Knockout Championship and they now have two fights under their belts with their third, Kaua’i knockout Championship III coming up Saturday, October 1st at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. A fourth is already scheduled for the last week of March 2012.
You can preorder tickets for the October 1st fight by calling 808-639-4276.
Kipi and John are dedicated to putting on the best fight show they possibly can by making every show better than the last. If you want to see a UFC style fight, experience UFC atmosphere, with every seat in the house being a premier seat, then this is, wait for it…….. Da Place to Be!
They continuously put their money back into the fights, by purchasing flat screen TV’s and placing them throughout the convention hall, including TV’s in the beer garden so nobody misses a second of the action. They have spent approximately $6,000 on replay-capabilities so the audience can see the knockouts, takedowns, chokeholds, arm bars, or any other cool move over and over.
What Kipi and John want you to know — if you have never been to or seen a MMA fight or even if you have — is what you can expect to see in a Kipi/John fight venue.
First, you will feel it — a vibration, a thrill, an electric atmosphere — then you will see it: the new cage, the TV’s everywhere, the replays, the lighting and the fight match ups.
These, by the way, are very important because without a good fight everything else is meaningless.
For this upcoming fight Saturday night, kickboxing and MMA fights on their venue, with the main event showcasing Kevin Soong vs. Kyle Foyle fighting for the 155 lbs championship belt. The winner of the 125 lbs matchup between Domenick Ansagay vs. Joei Balai will get the honor of competing in the March event for the title.
Kapa‘a boy Kevin Soong, now living on the Big Island and training at the BJ Penn Academy, will come home to Kaua‘i and fight for the first time in front of his family and friends. Kevin currently holds two belts as the Just Scrap and X1 155 lb. Amateur Champion.
Kyle Foyle is a North Shore Lifeguard on the Island of O‘ahu, and a talented up and coming fighter. Currently Kyle is training Muay Thai in Thailand, but also has excellent stand up and BJJ skills. He is always in tip top shape.
Pending potential training injuries, this is going to be one heck of a fight card.
One of the most important points I need to make, and the question everyone is asking is, ‘What about the ring girls’?
Yezzir, they are back. The two twins, Brittany and Bianca from the big island, Michelle from Oregon and our very own local girl Annaliesa. These girls have developed what appears to be their very own cult following, and rightly so. Even my wife agrees, these girls are gorgeous. So, if for no other reason than to see the ring girls, you must come to this fight venue!
Kipi and John’s fights are all about the local fighters, they want to match each fight with an up and coming Kaua‘i fighter, and give them their chance to prove themselves and grow. They use their own money to bring in fighters from outside of Kaua‘i so our fighters here get the experience they need if they want to continue on in their quest to become a professional MMA fighter.
Knowing there are two different fight venues on Kaua‘i, I asked Kipi and John if the other fight promoter was big competition – and yes, I was trying to stir the pot. Their response was, “No, we are our own competition. Our competition is to make each fight venue better than our last.”
They have the utmost respect for the other promoter and what he has done for the fighters here on Kaua‘i, and their hope is that they can both continue to bring the best fights for the fans and for our competitors.
Now get off the couch and get out and witness the competition, the comradeship, the electricity that is happening here on our island!
