Set for the UFO-shaped Neil S Blaisdell Arena, the Rumble on the Rock is being produced by Jay Dee Penn in association with the K-1 Fighting Network. It promises to be the biggest mixed martial arts event ever held in the United States.

The rules will be similar to those found in ROMANEX -- three, five minute rounds per bout with a one minute rest period between rounds. The fighters will do battle in an octagon-shaped ring, this enclosed not by ropes as is the norm for K-1 and ROMANEX events, but rather by a chain link fence, which allows fighters to engage in "against the wall" maneuvers as well as standup strikes and grappling. The judges will work with standard ten point per round scorecards.

As a trio of stunningly beautiful women draped lei round their necks, the men who will do battle marched in turn onto the stage to meet the media and the public -- and none received a bigger cheer than BJ Penn. The 26 year-old Jiu-jitsu whiz hails from Hilo, Hawaii, and in the main event tomorrow he will carry the honor of his state into the ring against a formidable opponent -- Brazilian Rodrigo Gracie.

The Gracies are fightsport's most revered family, and although Rodrigo got a polite hand from many in the crowd, there was also a smattering of jeers to be heard. These did not faze the classy fighter, who smiled and took the opportunity to praise Hawaii. "This place is wonderful," he said, "it feels like a lot like Brazil, with the nice, warm weather and the warm, friendly people!"

Likewise, Penn clearly was saving his fight for the ring: "This is the best sport in the world," he said. "My friends and my family all here and I feel great. But I don't feel like talking right now, because I want to fight, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow!"

Asked about the weight issue (Penn fought in the 155 lb (70kg) and 170 lb (77kg) classes before moving up to the 185 lb (84kg) division for this bout, Penn mused existential, "I want to be remembered as a great, someone who would fight anyone, anytime. If I fight a 300 pound guy and get KO'd, I won't even know, so I won't care."

Another heavily-anticipated bout on this card will feature a couple of Californians. Carter Williams will be returning to mixed martial arts for a fight against Wrestler Tom "The Green Beret" Howard. Williams is a finesse fighter coming off a less-than-perfect year, so this could be an opportunity to turn things around. But Howard, who fights out of the respected Shark Tank Gym, is not expected to roll over and play dead. Both men kept their comments to a minimum, thanking Rumble on the Rock organizers and promising to do their best.

A second Gracie on the card is Royler, who started fighting when he was three, holds a sixth dan Black Belt, is a five-time ADCC champion and a five-time Brazilian Jiu-jitsu champion. Royler will step in against Kazuyuki Miyata, a 28 year-old Wrestler who represented Japan at the Sydney Olympics and will be making his pro debut at the Rumble on the Rock.

Hawaiian fighters are well-represented here, and one of the most popular is Wesley "Cabbage" Correira, a slugger known for his quick KOs and an iron chin. Cabbage and opponent Yoshihiro Nakao of Japan engaged in a staredown both at the weigh-in and at the press conference -- these two just don't seem to have hit it off very well. Nakao promised to transform Cabbage into gyoza, while the Hawaiian fighter, in a chillingly calm voice, assured the crowd that he was putting the evil eye on his opponent for a good reason: "This is no game, this is business. I'm going to do something unique with this guy -- I'm going to make a chain out of his teeth."

French K-1 Superstar Jerome LeBanner is in Hawaii, and in a surprising announcement revealed that he will fight at the Dynamite event in Osaka this New Year's Eve, making his ROMANEX Rules debut against a yet-to-be announced opponent. Meanwhile, LeBanner's Extreme Team fighter, Kristof "The Phoenix" Midoux, who splits his time training with LeBanner in France and teaching fighters in the mixed martial arts hotspot of Quebec, will meet Michael Malone at the Blaisdell Arena tomorrow. Malone is a last-minute substitute for Falaniko Vitale, who was forced to withdraw due a family emergency. K-1 joins Rumble on the Rock organizers and all fighters in offering their support to Vitale in this difficult time.

Glaringly obvious was the weight and height difference between fighters Shungo Oyama and Sean O'Hare. Oyama weighed in at 200 lbs (90kg) while O'Hare tipped the scales at 275 lbs (125kg). O'Hare (who, incidentally, handily won the best-dressed fighter honors at the press conference, dapper as he was in pointy Freud goatee, wraparound shades, and a smart black suit), also stands some eight inches (20cm) taller than Oyama. This lead the Japanese fighter to remark, "It looks like a David versus Goliath fight, and I believe it will play out the same way as the original story."

In other action, Aitor Canup of North Carolina will take on Hawaiian Juda Aalona. Both these men fight with former Sumo Grand Champion Akebono's Team Yokozuna. Akebono was on today hand to meet his many Hawaiian fans, and, like LeBanner, announced that he too will make his mixed martial arts debut this New Year's Eve, against none other than the legendary Royce Gracie. The weight difference here is phenomenal -- Gracie is 185 lbs (83kg), while Akebono weighs some 460 pounds (208kg).

Said Gracie: "Akebono is more than twice my size and he is a legend. When I told my father about the fight, he asked me, 'Why fight someone so big?' Well, he is big, so this is the biggest challenge of my life, and I am looking forward to it!"

Gracie then laughed, "I guess I got to start eating more, I have 200 pounds to gain!"

Akebono, who will be making his mixed martial arts debut, had this to say: "I really have no idea how I will approach this fight, he has so much skill, I suppose I will try to stop him from moving!"

In other action set for the Rumble on the Rock, behemoth Wes "The Project" Sims of Ohio will meet Antoni Hardonk of the Vos Gym in Holland (home to four-time K-1 World GP Champion Ernesto Hoost); Ross Ebanez of Hawaii will meet Karate fighter Dennis Hallman of Washington; and Kaynan Kaku of Hawaii will dance with Californian Gilbert Melendez in an under 155 lb (70kg) matchup.

All participating fighters look fit and ready, find complete Rumble on the Rock matchups here. The action kicks off at 7:00 pm Hawaiian time Saturday, November 20 (0h00 EST, 05h00 GMT on Nov 21), and will be pay-per-view broadcast in the United States and Japan, and broadcast on a delayed basis in a number of other countries. Check with you local provider for scheduling information. Complete coverage will be posted on the K-1 Official Website (www.k-1gp.net) soon after the final bell.