Niko runs through Starnes in Warm-up for Ninja
By David McKinney
ShineFights.com
Photo is courtesy of Jamm
Aquino, Honolulu Star Bulletin
Fighting for the first time since October 2008, Hawaiian MMA legend Falaniko Vitale (27-9) easily dispatched Canadian UFC veteran Kalib Starnes (10-5-1) to defend his middleweight title in the Hawaii-based X-1 World Events organization at their “Champions II” event.
The fight started out with the TUF 3 veteran gaining the early advantage. A quick slam from the Starnes seemed to shake the cobwebs from Vitale, and then the craftiness of the Hawaiian took over. With Starnes standing over him, Vitale grabbed an ankle, tripped his opponent, and quickly ended up on top. A few attempts to ground and pound were scoffed, but eventually Starnes gave up the front choke with the champion in his half-guard, and Vitale took it.
The end came at just 2:22 of the first round via the ever-popular Ezekiel choke.
“Once I get somebody in side control, I know I have him,” Vitale said in an interview with Sherdog.com. “I was trying to go for a crucifix, trying to land some punches, and that didn’t work out. Then he put me in half guard and I applied the hammer choke, and I was fortunate to get him.”
The win was the 35-year-old’s sixth in his past eight fights. Next up for the veteran fighter is a highly-anticipated May 15 date with former PRIDE superstar Murilo “Ninja” Rua. The middleweight bout will co-headline “Worlds Collide: Mayorga vs. Thomas,” the latest offering from Shine Fight Promotions, and is scheduled to take place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. Available on PPV in North America for $29.95, the card will be headlined by former WBA/WBA world boxing champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga as he takes on MMA veteran Din “Dinyero” Thomas in his MMA debut. Tickets will go on sale soon via Ticketmaster and ShineFights.com.
Another Hawaiian legend and Shine Fights veteran, Harris “The Hitman” Sarmiento, also picked up a win at “Champions II,” earning a split-decision win over TUF 9 alum Richie Whitson in the night’s co-main event to gain the X-1 World Events Lightweight Championship.
