[ SUPERBRAWL ]
JOHN N. YO UNG / SUPER BRAWL
Former Waipahu and UH football player Falaniko Vitale (top) faces UFC legend Dave Menne tonight at the Blaisdell Arena.
Vitale gets wish,
faces MenneThe mixed-martial-arts star takes
on one of the top fighters in the world
tonight at the Blaisdell
It would seem Falaniko Vitale has spent his entire mixed martial arts career fighting to leave Hawaii.
The reality is Vitale has been fighting to stay in Hawaii, beating up local talent in the hopes of someday luring a big name into the ring in front of his home crowd.
For better or worse, Vitale gets his wish tonight.
Super Brawl XXXIII
Where: Neal Blaisdell ArenaWhen: 7:30 p.m. tonight
Matchups: >> Falaniko Vitali (15-3) vs. Dave Menne (32-9-2)
>> Eddie Yagin vs. Jens Pulver
>> Ronald Jhun (20-11) vs. Kyle Brees (8-4)
>> Justin Eilers (5-2-1) vs. Vince Lucero (13-5)
>> Ben George (0-0) vs. Bryson Monterde (0-0)
>> Ed Nawalu (1-0) vs. Harvey Nakamoto (2-0)155-pound tournament semifinals:
>> Mike Bauer (1-1) vs. Harris Sarmiento (7-7)
>> Paul Laga (0-0) vs. Kolo Koka (6-4)Semifinal winners will face each other prior to the main event
The former Waipahu and UH football player will take on Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Dave Menne in the main event of Super Brawl XXXIII at the Blaisdell Arena.
So much of Vitale's -- and Hawaii's many other bright stars in the sport -- career has been spent trying to get onto a UFC card on the mainland. Vitale made it come true with a pair of battles against Matt Lindland, but a loss in his last fight has put him in a position where he has to impress the big dog of mixed martial arts to earn another shot.
That is part of why he asked Super Brawl promoter T Jay Thompson to get him the toughest opponent he could. That Vitale's name was big enough to draw one of the sport's giants says everything about what he has meant to mixed martial arts in the state.
"I love to be a part of its success," Vitale said when asked what he has meant to the sport in the islands. "Hawaii is rich in the martial arts, so it's only natural that the fans would give the sport its recognition here. But really, it wasn't me; it was the fans."
And Vitale, a 2-1 underdog, may need every ounce of strength those friends, family and fans can provide him tonight.
Menne is a UFC legend and former titleholder who hasn't lost much of his ability. He has not been forced to submit in five years and is generally regarded as still one of the top five fighters in the world at 185 pounds.
Perhaps most impressively, Menne is a character in a video game, UFC Throwdown for the Nintendo Game Cube and Sony's PlayStation 2.
Vitale hasn't warmed up for the challenge by beating on the cyber-Menne. He actually hasn't even viewed a tape of him. He only knows that he is going to be tough.
"I still want to compete against the best, and I understand he is one of the best in the world," Vitale said. "I will find out in the ring. I know I have a lot of expectations for the fighters who are better. I expect him to be tough."
Others whose likeness and mannerisms are in the video game are Jens Pulver and Hilo's BJ Penn. Pulver will take on Eddie Yagin, a student of local fighter Egan Inoue, in an undercard fight using Muay Thai/Kickboxing rules.
The rules prohibit grappling, which pits one of the world's best strikers against arguably one of Hawaii's best strikers.
Other talent includes former Iowa football player Justin Eilers, who lost a disputed decision to Hilo's Cabbage last year, Ronald Jhun, Kolo Koka and Vince Lucero.
Although Vitale's name drew the talent to the island, Penn's toughness may have made it so.
Penn moved up a weight class and beat UFC champion Matt Hughes -- who is expected to be in attendance along with UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and a contingent of NFL Pro Bowlers -- last week in Las Vegas, bringing the possibility of a sanctioned UFC event to the state closer to reality.
"B.J. is the man right now, he beat the unbeatable," UFC President Dana White said. "People love him."
