By NICOLE KATO
Buckle up, fight fans: More mixed martial arts-related events are coming to Oahu.
Thanks to Star Elite Cage Fighting, an MMA promotion based in Las Vegas, Nev., but with an eye fixed on developing homegrown talent, local fighters will be given even more opportunities to take their game to the next level.
It all begins with “The Foundation: A Night of Kickboxing,” scheduled for April 27 at Pier 10, Aloha Tower. The main event features Michael Brighton (5-2) of Guerrilla Hoise versus L-John Borges (3-1) of 808 Top Team, while the co-main event pits Kevin Aguigui (4-0) of Gracie Technics against Nainoa Spragling (3-0) of Gods Hands.
Promoter Andrew Garcia says he’s staging martial arts events each month at Pier 10, giving fight fans no shortage of thrilling action.
“I started off in Las Vegas,” explains Garcia, who promoted X-1 Events for five years in “Sin City.” “I was working with Las Vegas MMA and we were doing Hawaii versus Mainland. I would bring local boys to fight Mainland boys.
“But I noticed a lot of promoters down here weren’t doing shows because of the sanction. (Back in 2009, the state of Hawaii sanctioned MMA fighting as a sport that requires a license, rules and regulation by a state boxing or athletic commission.) So I came back home and decided to work on getting my promoter’s license here.”
Garcia plans to make his monthly events a family affair.
“Back in the days it was a family-oriented event,” he says. “I want to bring back that family atmosphere.”
In addition, each month will feature a different style of martial arts, including boxing, kickboxing, pankration, MMA and XMA.
“It’s going to be every month for the rest of the year,” says Garcia. “But we’re eventually going to do other shows on the neighbor islands and at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
“I want to watch Hawaii boys grow (as fighters) and eventually take them to Vegas — but not just stopping at Vegas. We want to expand.”
Call Garcia at 372-8513 for tickets, which are $20 presale and $25 at the door. Doors open at 3 p.m. and action starts at 7 p.m.
Star Elite Cage Fighting is also trying to establish matches for its May 10 event. Interested fighters should contact Garcia.