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Troops get
Snoop support

Sporting a red, white and blue jersey with "Support Our Troops" emblazoned across the chest and a jewel-encrusted microphone, Snoop Dogg headlined a star-studded evening at the Waikiki Shell on Saturday.

The rapper was the brightest star among all the celebrities the poker Web site Bodog.net brought to town for "Bodog Salutes the Troops," the main event of a three-day weekend that included a private luau and poker tournament at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel. But for a few lucky members of the military and Bodog VIPs, the concert also provided the opportunity to rub shoulders with some big names.

Local scenesters would have recognized Juliet Lighter among the beauties working as spokesmodels for Bodog, and it was hard to miss "Lost" star Jorge Garcia. And before she got onstage to thank the troops for coming out, Shannon Elizabeth enjoyed the comedy of Wanda Sykes and Paul Rodriguez just a few rows away from Estella Warren and Peter Berg.

And just when I thought things couldn't get any better, I spotted poker pros David Williams and Evelyn Ng. Who needs Snoop's backup dancers when you've got Ng there working it out to "Beautiful?" ...

AN EARLY exit from the Shell allowed me to get to Blaisdell Arena in time for one of the best mixed martial arts matches I've ever seen.

Mark Oshiro and Ed Newalu weren't in the main event of "Superbrawl: ICON," but Newalu's decision victory to claim the Hawaii State Flyweight Championship was action-packed and had the crowd screaming. It was also the last time a local fighter would claim victory that night.

Kolo Koka stunned fans when he hinted at retirement after losing to Ryan Diaz, and Jason "Mayhem" Miller put on a clinic as he beat Mark Moreno with an armbar submission in the first round of the co-main event. And while Niko Vitale lost his middleweight belt to Robbie Lawler, the stunned crowd couldn't help but applaud when he wrapped the title around Lawler's waist.

I'm happy to see promoter TJ Thompson stepping things up in response to the surge of interest in MMA. He's got Miller playing to the crowd, and it was entertaining to see Ronald Jhun storm the ring and demand a rematch. Next up -- B.J. Penn vs. Renzo Gracie, Friday at Aloha Stadium ...