Hawaii has deep roots in combat sports. Between the islands' strong wrestling and martial arts culture and a time zone that means main cards start in the early evening instead of midnight, fight nights hit different here. But finding a good spot in Honolulu to watch UFC with a crowd, on big screens, with sound — and without paying a cover — isn't as easy as it should be. Skybox Taphouse in Waikiki is the answer.
Every UFC Event, No Cover
Skybox shows every UFC event — numbered pay-per-view cards, Fight Night events, and everything in between. There's no cover charge. You show up, grab a seat, order food and drinks, and watch the fights on 20+ screens with full sound. That's it. No ticket, no minimum spend, no velvet rope.
The Hawaii time zone is a genuine advantage for fight fans. A main card that starts at 10 PM Eastern hits the screens at 4 PM in Waikiki. That means the main event — which might not start until 12:30 AM on the mainland — typically wraps up by 8 or 9 PM here. You get the full fight night experience and still have the rest of your evening ahead of you.
The Setup
Skybox is on the third-floor Grand Lanai of International Market Place on Kalakaua Avenue. The venue seats 275 across indoor and outdoor areas with two full-size bars. On fight nights, the audio is on and the atmosphere is dialed in — you'll hear walkout music, corner advice, and Bruce Buffer's announcements the way they're meant to be heard.
With 20+ TVs spread across the venue, there's no bad seat for the fights. Whether you're at the bar, at a table, or posted up in the outdoor section, you've got a screen in your sightline. For the bigger cards — championship fights, Conor McGregor returns, that kind of event — the crowd energy at Skybox is the closest thing to being in the arena.
What to Eat and Drink During the Fights
Fight cards run for a few hours, so you're going to want food. Skybox has a full kitchen menu — not just bar snacks — running throughout every event. The best move for a group is to start with shareable plates: Upper-Cut jumbo wings (Buffalo, Honey Sriracha, or Hawaiian BBQ), Triple Play nachos that serve 4-6 people, or the Monster Pretzel with Wisconsin cheese sauce.
For individual orders, the hand-crafted pizzas and All-Star fish tacos are fan favorites, and the Kalua smoked pork sliders are hard to pass up. The kitchen stays open until 1 AM every night, so you're covered through the entire card and then some.
On the drink side, Skybox has its own house beers on tap — the Skybox Blonde and a Hazy IPA with mango and guava notes — alongside local drafts from Kona Brewing, Maui Brewing, and Ola Brew. Signature cocktails run $16 each, with options like the All Tai'd Up Mai Tai and the Overtime Buzz espresso martini. If the fights fall during happy hour (Monday–Friday, 3–6 PM), you're looking at $5 domestic pints, $7 local drafts, and $11 cocktails — which makes prelim fights even better.
Why Not Just Watch at Home?
You could. But UFC pay-per-views aren't cheap, and splitting the cost of a PPV across a group still doesn't give you the same experience. At Skybox, the fights are free to watch, the screens are bigger than what you've got at home, the sound system is built for it, and the crowd reactions make every knockout and submission better. There's a real energy in a room full of fight fans that you can't replicate on your couch.
Plus, you don't have to cook, clean up, or play bartender for your friends. Just show up and enjoy the fights.
Other Combat Sports
It's not just UFC. Skybox shows major boxing events, Bellator cards, and other combat sports broadcasts when they're available. If there's a fight on, odds are good it's on at Skybox. If you're not sure whether they're showing a specific event, call ahead at 808-378-8542 or check the events page for the weekly schedule.
After the Fights
One of the best things about watching UFC at Skybox is that the night doesn't have to end when the main event does. Karaoke runs every night from 9 PM to 2 AM, the kitchen is open until 1 AM, and the bar keeps pouring until close at 2 AM. Post-fight karaoke has become its own thing at Skybox — the energy from the fights carries right into the mic.
Getting There
Skybox Taphouse is at 2330 Kalakaua Ave #302, on the third floor of International Market Place in Waikiki. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM. Walk-ins are welcome on fight nights, but for championship cards you might want to save a table early — those events fill up.