Vitale to face judo expert in main event

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Falaniko Vitale is like any person at a new job. He'd like to work his way to the top as fast as he can.

"I actually miss work sometimes," said Vitale, who used to be a construction site supervisor. "But this is what I love to do and my sponsors are taking care of me. Now, it's my job to take care of business in the ring."

Vitale, a Waipahu High graduate who now resides in Kane'ohe, will be featured in the main event of Super Brawl 36 tonight at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

Vitale is 17-3, including 9-1 in his last 10 bouts. His opponent is Yushin Okami (8-1), a judo expert from Tokyo. Both fighters made the 185-pound limit last night.

"I really don't know much about him," said Vitale, 29. "He's a judo guy, so he'll probably try to take me down. I just have to be ready for anything."

Vitale has already fought on bigger cards and against better-known opponents in Las Vegas, but he said Okami will be "probably one of the top two guys I've ever gone up against."

"I guess I'll know more after the fight," he said. "But if everything they say about this guy is true, I'm expecting it to be a tough one."

Vitale is hoping a victory will lead to a promotion. A win tonight could earn him another chance at fighting for one of the larger mixed martial arts organizations, either on the Mainland or in Japan.

"That's the talk right now, but I've heard it before," he said. "I really don't know what's going to happen. I just have to take care of my part."

One fighter other than Vitale will definitely earn a promotion to the Ultimate Fighting Championship — the most popular organization in the sport — after tonight's card.

The winner of an eight-man tournament for 155-pound fighters has been promised a spot on a future UFC card.

"That's one of my goals; I think everybody wants to get to UFC," said Kane'ohe's Harris Sarmiento, who is one of four Hawai'i grapplers in the tournament.

But the task will not be easy. The champion of the tournament must defeat three separate opponents tonight.

The other Hawai'i fighters in the tournament are Mike Aina, Donald Callurada and Kolo Koka.

"I've been working a lot on my conditioning," Sarmiento said. "It's hard just to get ready for one fight. This could be three fights, so I've just been training every day for it."

Also on the card, Kai Kamaka of Waipahu will fight for the first time in more than two years. He is the coach of the popular 808 Fight Factory team.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.