Aloha Stadium not throwing in towel on plans for UFC fight

Aloha Stadium is working through an intermediary in an attempt to have the UFC bring a card featuring featherweight champion Max Holloway to the facility next year.

“We’re hoping to bridge the gap,” Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan said. “He (state Sen. Glenn Wakai) is going to make the ‘ask’ for us and say, ‘Hey come to the stadium and then we’ll go from there.’

“I’m hoping that we can bring it here,” Chan said.

Wakai has reportedly had a conversation with one UFC official and there are plans for additional discussions.

The plans come as UFC President Dana White has said of holding a card at the open-air facility, “It’s tough, it’s a tough one to pencil.”

White made his comments in an interview on MMAjunkie.com, saying, “Listen, nobody wants to fly to Hawaii and do a show more than me and my staff. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go there? And the media, everybody wants to go there! It’s a tough, it’s a tough one to pencil. They don’t have an arena, they have the outside bowl.”

White did not mention Blaisdell Center or the Stan Sheriff Center in the interview with MMAjunkie.com but UFC officials have said they prefer a capacity of at least 16,000.

“I’m terrified to do anything outside with fighting.” White said. “I used to spend a lot of time in Hawaii early on when we bought the company because there were a lot of good fights out there. (But), it rains every 10 minutes. You know what I mean? It’s raining, then it’s beautiful out. It’s raining, then it’s beautiful out. It’s scary, man, and the thing just doesn’t pencil right now.”

UFC officials have also expressed concern about any requirement to “buy out” the swap meet for a Saturday date.

“Let’s see what their requirements are and whether we can make it happen,” Chan said.

White said Holloway “is awesome. You look at his run, its been amazing. He’s a good kid. Hawaii finally has a champion again.”

White did not rule out an appearance here, telling MMAJunkie.com, “Six months ago I said we wouldn’t do the 125-pound division (for women) so I’m not saying no anymore. We’ll see what happens.”

Aloha Stadium has hosted both pro boxing and MMA cards in the past without problems.