Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door; $20 cageside in advance, $25 at the door; CD Wizard, Big Island Surf, C Thru Glass Tinting, and Hilo Fight Company By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer Unorthodox Industries Championship promoter
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Unorthodox Industries Championship promoter Russell Strong is making fast friends with mixed martial arts aficionados any time he starts talking shop.
That’s because he’s charging discount prices and pushing hard on motivation, two incentives he hopes will reverse a trend of declining attendance at MMA shows.
His last event in October drew a crowd of roughly 700 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Tickets were $20 at the door, the usual going rate. Strong figured something needed to be fixed.
“I’m always doing research. I always want the next show to be better,” he said. “I would see guys on the street and ask, ‘How come you weren’t at the fight?’ They said, ‘No. 1, we no more money. No. 2, the fights were boring.’
“They said they were willing to pay $15. I said, ‘How about $10?’ The fighters want more fans to fight in front of. The fans are happy and the fighters are happy. Two sides win. I can do it at this price in Hilo because I own all my equipment, except the sound system. My cost of the show is way lower now.
“When I tell people about this card, they say it’s super good. When I tell them it’s $10, they say that’s unbelievable. It’s the first time in the whole state anyone is charging $10 for a mixed martial arts show. Nobody ever did that before.”
In the main event, “Rootless” Daniel Friend will battle Ian Dela Cuesta in a professional bout, which adds extra hot sauce to the mix because money is on the line. But far more important is the fact that bigger promotions, like the UFC, don’t fish for new blood with losing records.
“Daniel has super good stand-up. He comes forward and Ian is the same way,” Strong said. “I was watching the highlights of Ian on a Guam card. He lost in the third round on a triangle choke. He came down to the last card and asked me to put him on. It should be a good one.”
The rest of the bouts are amateur, but no less meaningful. In fact, there is no such thing as an amateur UIC championship belt carrying no weight.
“If a fighter gets two stoppages in a row or three decisions I’ll give him a title shot,” Strong said. “If you win a belt and defend it one time, then I’ll try to turn them pro. That gives the fighters incentive to finish the fight. I want to help the fighters get out of Hilo.
“The King of Cages is coming to Hawaii in April. I’m trying to get some of my fighters on that card. They run the Bully Beatdown on MTV. I’ll do anything to help my fighters get ahead.”
True to his word, Strong created a four-fighter 125-pound tournament — featuring Reed Akashi vs. Jayson Dumaoal, and Justin Cook vs. Conrado Martin — to find a pro opponent for Keenin Cohen.
The tourney winners would face off in the next UIC show March 17 on Maui, providing inspiration for all four fighters to punch, kick and scrap each other to move up the totem pole, as well as offering more bang-for-your-buck excitement for fans.
There are also a pair of title bouts with Shayne Nozaki, owner of the 808 Battleground welterweight belt, vs. Pono Kuikahi for the 170 UIC title, and Miles Campbell vs. Nue Kahele for the 155 lightweight belt.
“I’m developing my own website. Fighters can see who they might get next, not by popularity but if they finish a fight to be next in line,” Strong said. “That gives everybody motivation.”
Fight card
Daniel Friend vs. Ian Dela Cuesta, main event
Miles Campbell vs. Nue Kahele, 155 title
John Kaiya vs. Eddie Rodrigues
Pono Kuikahi vs. Shayne Nozaki, 170 title
Round One Life of a Fighter Tournament: Reed Akashi vs. Jayson Dumaoal; Justin Cook vs. Conrado Martin
Keone Rodrigues vs. Junior Garcia
Jamerson Kekaualua vs. Jason Irving
Kawika Martin vs. Ryan Dela Cruz
Awson Barrozo vs. Edgardo Escobar
Kolten Quevedo vs. Ikaika Rodrigues
Tyler Leopoldino vs. Noah Pacheco
David McKinney vs. Chris Hisa
Wayland Silva vs. Petty Vital
Kris Miranda vs. Rob Moel
John Urushiyama vs. James Clark
Bronson Barrazo vs. Pablo Garcia
MMA
What: Unorthodox Industries Championship
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hilo Civic
Main event: Daniel Friend vs. Ian Dela Cuesta, pro
Title bouts: Shayne Nozaki vs. Pono Kuikahi, 170; Miles Campbell vs. Nue Kahele, 155
Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door; $20 cageside in advance, $25 at the door; CD Wizard, Big Island Surf, C Thru Glass Tinting, and Hilo Fight Company
