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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 17, 2009

Up N Up show first run under state regulations


By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Harris Sarmiento, right, defeated Michael Brightmon by unanimous decision in a 155-pound co-main event last Saturday night at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

STARR BEGLEY | Special to the Honolulu Advertiser

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The Up N Up mixed martial arts show may not have packed the Blaisdell Center Arena last weekend, but it made history nonetheless.

The Up N Up event was the first mixed martial arts show to run under state regulations that went into effect on July 1.

"There were no problems, everything went well," said Alan Taniguchi, the executive officer of the state's Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. "It wasn't a big crowd, but at least they paved the way and showed it can be done. Hopefully other promoters fall in line and do more shows here."

In accordance with the new state regulations, Up N Up officials had all the fighters, judges and referees licensed with the state of Hawai'i prior to the event. Two licensed physicians and an ambulance were also required to be on site for the duration of the event.

There were no significant injuries.

"The only hard part was the paperwork," Up N Up promoter Rick Young said. "If we want to move MMA in the right direction, this is the kinds of things we have to do."

Also in accordance with the new regulations, all attendance figures and gate receipts from the show had to be reported to the state.

According to Taniguchi, the Up N Up show had a complete attendance of 1,741 (including giveaway tickets) and made $50,740 in gate receipts.

Young is required to pay 4 percent — approximately $2,030 — of his gate receipts to the state.

"We met our quota," Young said. "Of course, I wish O'ahu could have made more of an effort to come out and support the show, but we still feel like we got what we wanted out of it."

Up N Up is a Maui-based organization, and one of Young's goals was to showcase Maui fighter Brandon Visher.

In the main event, Visher defeated California's Isaac de Jesus via third round TKO. Visher is now 16-0.

"I would love to see all the Hawai'i guys fight in the UFC or Strikeforce or those other big companies," Young said. "A big reason why we did this show was to get some of these guys the recognition they deserve."

Young said the cost to promote a show at Blaisdell Arena is prohibitive, but he would like to return sometime in 2010.

"With the economy the way it is, it's tough to put on a big show right now," Young said. "But we definitely will look to come back and try it again."