He's done it before and will try it again tonight at the Super Brawl 39 mixed martial arts event at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

"I like how the people in Hawai'i respect all the fighters," Suda said. "But I know they all want the other guy to win."

The "other guy" tonight will be Waipahu's Falaniko Vitale.

Suda, who is from Japan, will put his Super Brawl world championship on the line against Vitale in a 185-pound bout.

Suda is 21-8-3, and won the Super Brawl title two years ago by knocking out Hawai'i fan favorite Egan Inoue in front of a standing room only crowd of more than 8,000 at the Blaisdell Arena.

A similar-sized crowd is expected tonight. As of last night, only around 1,500 tickets were still available.

"It was the same situation when I fought Egan," Suda said. "I fought well that time and sort of changed the opinion of the Hawai'i people. I hope to fight well again."

Vitale is 19-3, and said he is hoping to bring the Super Brawl title back to Hawai'i.

"Everybody by now knows what's on the line," Vitale said. "I've prepared hard for this fight and I'm ready for anything."

Officials from some of Japan's top mixed martial arts organizations are expected to be in attendance tonight. A victory could earn Vitale a lucrative contract to fight in Japan.

Vitale was 181 pounds at the official weigh-in yesterday at the Eastside Grill. Suda was 177› pounds.

"I normally weigh a little more, but that's what I wanted to be for this fight," Suda said. "I know it's going to be a hard fight."

Vitale will not be the only Hawai'i fighter going for a title tonight.

Honolulu's Harris Sarmiento will take on Canada's Kultar Gill for the Super Brawl North American championship at 155 pounds.

"I always train the same way," Sarmiento said. "But this is a chance for me to get a belt, so it's pretty much my biggest fight so far."

Sarmiento was originally scheduled to face fellow Hawai'i fighter Kolo Koka for the title, but Koka sustained an injury while training last week.

"I never really wanted to fight Kolo, actually, because we know each other," Sarmiento said. "But now that I get this guy from Canada, I feel glad to be fighting. I can't wait."

Super Brawl 39 Title bouts

World championship, 185 pounds: Masanori Suda vs. Falaniko Vitale. North American championship, 155 pounds: Harris Sarmiento vs. Kultar Gill. Hawai'i championship, 145 pounds: Justin Mercado vs. Jim Kikuchi.

Other matches

170 pounds: Mark Moreno vs. Kevin Barber. 170: Malik Williams vs. K.J. Noons. 135: Albert Manners vs. Ryan Lee. 135: Harvey Nakamura vs. Mark Oshiro. 205: Kala Kolohe Rose vs. Reese Andy. 135 (kickboxing): Tyson Nam vs. Jumar Dumalao. 170 (kickboxing): Bryson Kamaka vs. Allan Ulip. Youth exhibition: Triston Pebria vs. Kai Kamaka III.