Richard Chou, a Hawai'i promoter who is assisting K-1 officials with the event, said Hilo's B.J. Penn and former sumo grand champion Akebono of Waimanalo are scheduled to fight on the card.

"A lot of contracts are still in the works," Chou said. "But it could be the biggest thing in combat sports to hit the United States, let alone Hawai'i."

Penn is expected to face Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Renzo Gracie in one of the "Super Fight" main events at 185 pounds. Penn is widely regarded as the best "pound for pound" mixed martial arts fighter in the world.

Gracie is considered one of the legendary figures in the sport and he runs several jiu-jitsu schools around the world.

Penn is currently involved in an assault charge against a Ho-nolulu police officer, but Chou said the ongoing case should not affect the card.

Another of the "Super Fight" main events will be a battle of giants. Akebono, who is listed at 6 feet 8 and 485 pounds, is scheduled to face Hong-Man Choi of Korea.

Choi is listed at 7-2 and 353 pounds.

One more "Super Fight" is expected to be announced, and an eight-man heavyweight tournament is also scheduled.

Chou said K-1 officials are hoping to draw 20,000 fans to Aloha Stadium for the event.

The U.S. attendance record for a mixed martial arts event is believed to be 14,562 for an Ultimate Fighting Championship card in Las Vegas two months ago.

The Hawai'i event is also expected to be televised nationally in Japan.

Michael Onzuka, a jiu-jitsu instructor in Hawai'i and a mixed martial arts judge and journalist, said the attempt at the attendance record could depend on ticket prices.

"I think you'll see a good crowd because Akebono is a huge draw and Penn-Gracie is a big match-up," Onzuka said. "But the only way they can get close to 20,000 is to offer tickets at bargain basement prices. If not, I think 10,000 is still a good number."

Ticket prices have yet to be announced.

In a separate mixed martial arts event July 23, Waipahu's Falaniko Vitale will defend his Super Brawl 185-pound championship against Iowa's Robbie Lawler at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

Mixed martial arts events have been drawing capacity crowds to the Blaisdell Center Arena in recent years. A Rumble on the Rock card featuring B.J. Penn against Rodrigo Gracie last November drew a standing-room- only crowd of more than 8,000.