Niko back in the ring

The last time Falaniko Vitale was in an Icon Sport ring, he announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts.

Apparently, he was kidding.

Icon Sport: Lawler/Niko 2 Tomorrow, Blaisdell Arena, 7 p.m. Main Event 185 pounds: Falaniko Vitale vs. Robbie Lawler (non-title) State Flyweight Title 145: Jim Kikuchi vs. David "Chinaman" Yeung 160: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Chambers 175: Chad Gusman vs. Kimo Woefel 170: Wayne Perrin vs. Ku Lee 155: Bronson Delima vs. Tim "Magic" Moon 160: Adam Bass vs. David Padilla 135: Austin Hernandez vs. Ikaika Silva 165: Mike Taniguchi vs. Ikaika Choy-Fu 135: Ryan Lee vs. Tyson Nam 135: Mark Oshiro vs. Gene "Bino" Gregory 165: Marshall Harvest vs. Bryce Martinez

Just four months after Vitale's last fight, the former Super Brawl middleweight champion returns to the ring for a non-title rematch against current Icon Sport middleweight champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler in the main event of tomorrow night's Icon Sport: Lawler/Niko 2 event at the Blaisdell Arena.

Vitale is coming off a second-round submission loss to Jason "Mayhem" Miller in October that was supposed to be for a shot at Lawler's middleweight title. However, Miller was indefinitely suspended by Icon Sport last month after an incident in December in which he allegedly kicked down the door of his ex-girlfriend's apartment in Nuuanu and got into an altercation with another man. As a result, the promoters needed a fill-in for the fight and Vitale was available.

"When I heard about the incident, I had a feeling they might ask me to step in," Vitale said. "I was at about 80 percent (training shape) when they called, but I've had a month to get into top shape."

Vitale sat on top of Hawaii's mixed martial arts world last year after defeating Masanori Suda for the middleweight title. But in his first title defense in July, Vitale was knocked out by Lawler, so he's excited at the opportunity to gain some revenge.

"One of the reasons I decided to come back was to redeem myself in front of the fans," Vitale said. "I want to prove to people I'm a better fighter and prove that I still can get it done."

Lawler has fought once since his victory over Vitale, defeating Jeremy Brown last September in a King of the Cage event in Indiana, and is looking forward to fighting once again in front of the Hawaii crowd.

"This is the best place to fight," Lawler said. "The fans are so knowledgeable and it's an incredible atmosphere. I'm excited to be out there."

The first fight between the two was a standup war, with neither man wanting to take the fight to the ground. Vitale seemed to get the better of the standing exchanges in the first round, but Lawler returned the favor and finished off Vitale with 24 seconds remaining in the second round.

Despite the win, Lawler is adamant that the first fight means nothing and all that matters is what happens tomorrow night.

"The past is the past," Lawler said. "I'm just here looking to compete and no matter who it's against, I go in to fight hard and do what I have to do."

Meanwhile, Miller, despite the suspension, will be at the event and thinks Vitale will even the score.

"I wish I could put on as exciting a fight as these two knuckleheads," Miller said. "I'm throwing a shaka out for the local boy."

In other bouts on tomorrow's card, the Icon Sport state flyweight title will be on the line as champion Jim Kikuchi defends his title against David "Chinaman" Yeung. Yeung was knocked out by Kikuchi in July 2004 in just 23 seconds and is also looking for a taste of revenge.

Up-and-coming PRIDE fighter Jason Chambers is also in action as he takes on Michihiro Omigawa at 160 pounds.

Tickets ranging from $35 to $150 are still available. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.