DeRay Davis Honolulu Concert reviews
Had Its Awesome Ups And Depressing Downs
Day 1 began with our early arrival at the Expo, where we obtained our VIP badges and free bag of items, including a UFC 200 poster, cool coasters, and a phone charger - no gym bag or shirt this year. We eagerly awaited the doors to open at 9am before joining the line to meet Stipe Miocic, followed by various other fighters, octagon girls, and UFC personalities. Later, we attended the weigh-ins at the T-Mobile Arena, making it an awesome day.
Day 2 started off early again as we lined up at 9am to see Michael Bisping, who was a no-show, replaced by Matt Hughes. We then queued up at 11am for Nate Diaz, who was supposed to meet fans at 2:30pm but ultimately did not make an appearance until 5pm, leaving us disappointed and given a bracelet for another fighter's line.
The highlight of Day 3 was meeting more fighters, attending the Hall of Fame induction, and unexpectedly encountering DeRay Davis, who signed autographs for a couple of hours. The Expo staff did their best to manage the situation, despite the stress.
Reflecting on the experience, the Expo was enjoyable overall, but marred by the time wasted waiting for fighters who failed to honor their commitments. The process should have been better managed to avoid disappointing fans.
After the fights, the promised access to after-parties with UFC fighters did not materialize as expected, leading to a frustrating experience at Hakkasan on Thursday night. Despite paying to enter, we enjoyed the club's amenities but missed the UFC presence. Would I attend again? Yes, but with a readiness to advocate for the experience I expect.