Interview by Robert Fain- (Kauai) MMA Hawaii Staff Reporter

Shane Kahananui *SK of KTI Jiu Jitsu, fighting Arnold Berdon of Team Hakuilua;

MMAHAWAII: Howzit Shane.  Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most the night of the cage match?

SK: I’m looking forward to a fun time, going out there and doing my thing and showing everybody what Kauai’s got.

MMAHAWAII: You’ve got some age and experience over a lot of these other fighters on the card.  How does age play an advantage to the fighting game, and any disadvantages?

SK: I cannot say that age has any advantages.  It’s what you do in the gym, what you put out in the gym.   You can be 18 or 48; I think it’s just how you train and what you do in the gym that counts. 

MMAHAWAII: You’re very popular to the MMA fans on Kaua’i, you’re fighting in the main event, and you’re putting your perfect 3-0 MMA record on the line against another undefeated fighter.  Does this add any extra pressure on winning this upcoming fight?

SK: Yea it puts some pressure, but I’m not going to worry about that right now.  I’m gonna just go out there and have fun with it.

MMAHAWAII: I’m sure you’ve probably studied your opponent, his strengths as well as weaknesses.  Can you foresee any holes in his game that you would be willing to disclose?

SK: From what I’ve seen and what I know, he’s got some super quick hands.  I couldn’t really tell about his ground game except I know he wrestled in high school, so I’m gonna just go in there and find out what I can, figure out what kind of holes he’s got, because as far as video I couldn’t see anything. Couldn’t find out too much about him.  I don’t really know too much about him anyway.  Holes, I can’t see em, so I just gotta go look for em in the cage I guess.   Take it as it comes.

MMAHAWAII: What do you think you have over your opponent that will allow you to overpower or win this fight?  Is it experience, technique, strength, or heart?

SK: You know, I think my heart is probably what’s going to push me through.  I want to win, and I have the will to win.  And like I said experience wise we’re pretty much even, I might have like a fight or two over him, but  it comes down to heart and technique I would say.

MMAHAWAII: What do you feel the future holds for fighting on Kaua’i? 

SK: Kauai doesn’t put out too much fighters but we do have the talent; Eben Kaneshiro, Kyle Sukehira, we got some talent out here and it holds a pretty big future.  I think Kauai’s gonna burst out pretty soon and we’ll get noticed pretty soon.

MMAHAWAII: What do you think about this new event, Kaua’i Knockout Championship, being held at the convention hall as opposed to an outdoor venue?  With theatre style seating, how do you think it’s going to work out?

SK: I’m pretty excited to see how it works out, actually.  No rain to deal with.  Probably the main thing was the seating; you get to see only one or two sides of the cage.  But I am pretty excited to see how this works out and I hope it really does bring another show to Kaua’i, a different look. I think it’ll work out pretty well. 

MMAHAWAII: What is one of the most important things that you want to leave for the fans at the end of the night?

SK: Just go home feeling like they got their moneys worth.  I don’t want to disappoint, win or lose, I want to put on a good show for them.  I just want them to go home talking about the fight, “did you guys see this, did you see that”, I don’t want them to go home thinking they got jipped.  Just go in there and enjoy themselves and enjoy what they saw.

MMAHAWAII: Anything else you’d like to add; shout outs, regrets, complaints?

SK: No complaints, just thank you to Scrappa Lifestyles, KTI, my KTI family, my wife and kids, and the rest of Kauai.  Come out and enjoy the show.  I hope to see you guys and hope to hear you cheering loud. 

MMAHAWAII: Mahalos for your time, and best of luck to ya in the upcoming event!

SK: Thank you.