Kimo, now semi-retired has been very supportive of the groups promoting MMA in the Pacific. He arrived on Saipan last Monday to be the special guest in the Predator or Prey MMA debut at the World Resort Hotel on Saturday.
Sponsored by the Gorilla Warfare Productions, the Predator or Prey features fighters from six different MMA teams on Saipan. The main event will be the fight between Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial of Marianas Elite and Charleston “The Predator” Aiken of Predator Combat Team.
In a press conference yesterday at the World Resort Hotel, Kimo said there are hundreds of Pacific Islanders who have UFC caliber and are now fighting in the middleweight and lightweight divisions and a few in heavyweight.
And these “bunch of guys” he said are not just one step away but already competing in the UFC arena.
And like Guam, he said Saipan definitely has MMA fighters who have potentials to be in the UFC.
The fighting techniques of islanders, he added are not so behind. They just need a little bit of refinement.
Kimo also said that MMA fighters in the Pacific are not just competing, but are leading.
“Because living here on the island, there is a lifestyle. Our lifestyle is, if we have a problems we fight it out and then we friends afterwards. So we are kind of a positive way. We’re taking the negative in terms of the positives,” he said.
Fighting in the MMA, Kimo added is an opportunity for some people to get out of unhealthy lifestyle. It is to give them hope and something they can do positive.
Bobby Gamboa of Platinum Fighting Productions, one of the groups promoting MMA events and fighters in California said it is possible for Saipan to host a UFC event.
The beauty of the place and the hospitality of the people he said can entice bigwigs in the UFC, like Dana White who will surely like to come and scout shows and some talents.
“And that really what it takes. We have to start somewhere. We’re going to start Aug. 2nd and have our show,” Gamboa said adding that they are also looking at starting one show after another, filling every couple of months for another show.
For which Kimo added, “There’s not too many places like this in the world.”
