Falaniko Vitale

Last updated
Falaniko Vitale
Falaniko Vitale.jpg
Born (1974-07-14) July 14, 1974 (age 49)
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Other namesNiko
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Division Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Fighting out of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
TeamGrappling Unlimited
808 Fight Team
Years active1999–2014
Mixed martial arts record
Total41
Wins30
By knockout14
By submission12
By decision4
Losses11
By knockout5
By submission3
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Falaniko "Niko" Vitale is a retired American mixed martial artist. He competed in the Middleweight division and has fought in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, the IFL, and King of the Cage. He is a former SuperBrawl Middleweight Champion, and also won the X-1 Middleweight Tournament.

Contents

Background

Vitale was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a native of Waipahu, Hawaii. He is of mixed Samoan, Chinese, German, and Portuguese descent. He graduated from Waipahu High School and was a star defensive back in football, going on to play for the University of Hawaii. [1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Vitale made his professional debut in 1999 against future UFC veteran Aaron Riley and won via TKO. Vitale would then go on to win his next three fights, his fourth career bout being his King of the Cage debut, before being handed his first professional loss by Japanese fighter Yasuhito Namekawa by a guillotine choke submission in the RINGS organization. He compiled a career record of 13–2 with only one fight outside of his Hawaii (his King of the Cage debut in California) before making his UFC debut.

UFC

Vitale made his UFC debut at UFC 43 against Olympic wrestler Matt Lindland in Nevada and won in a spectacular and very unusual slam knockout in which Lindland attempted to slam Vitale but landed on his own head knocking himself out. Vitale then mounted Lindland and the referee stopped the match. Two fights later, the two would have a rematch at UFC 45, which would result in a loss for Vitale after he submitted due to strikes.

Post-UFC

In his next fight Vitale bounced back with a win over former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne via unanimous decision. Two fights later, Vitale defeated future UFC veteran Yushin Okami via split decision.

Vitale had a five-fight winning streak before losing three consecutive fights to Robbie Lawler, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, and then lost in the rematch with Lawler.

Vitale bounced back with a win but then lost again in his IFL debut in Oakland, California against Jeremy Horn via split decision.

Strikeforce

Three fights after his loss to Horn, Vitale made his Strikeforce debut, winning after his opponent submitted due to strikes. In his next fight under the Strikeforce banner, Vitale lost to Trevor Prangley via referee decision. Three fights later, Vitale returned in a bout against Frank Trigg which he lost via unanimous decision.

Bellator

On January 28, 2011, Vitale signed a long-term deal with Bellator. He lost his debut fight against former Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard in a non-title fight. [2]

King of the Cage

Vitale would return over a year later against Elmer Waterhen at KOTC - Ali'is on July 14, 2012. Vitale won via TKO in the first round.

Vitale faced Jaime Jara at X-1 - Jara vs. Vitale on September 26, 2014. He lost the bout via second-round submission and subsequently retired from mixed martial arts. [3]

Personal life

Vitale is married and has four children. He and his family are Christians. [4]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
41 matches30 wins11 losses
By knockout145
By submission123
By decision43
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss30–11Jaime JaraSubmission (rear-naked choke)X-1: Jara vs. VitaleSeptember 26, 20142N/A Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win30–10Elmer WaterhenTKO (punches)KOTC: Ali'isJuly 14, 201213:36 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Loss29–10 Hector Lombard KO (punch) Bellator 44 May 14, 201130:54 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win29–9Dylan ClayKO (punch)X-1 Events: Champions IIIMarch 12, 201113:04 Hawaii, United StatesWon the X-1 Middleweight Championship.
Win28–9Kala HoseSubmission (ezekiel choke)X-1 Events: HeroesSeptember 11, 201042:26Hawaii, United States
Win27–9 Kalib Starnes Submission (ezekiel choke)X-1 Events: Champions IIMarch 20, 201012:22Hawaii, United States
Loss26–9 Frank Trigg Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Payback October 3, 200835:00 Colorado, United States
Win26–8Ricky ShiversTKO (cut)X-1 Events: ChampionsJanuary 26, 200810:49Hawaii, United StatesWon the X-1 Middleweight Tournament.
Win25–8Joey GuelDecision (unanimous)X-1 Events: ChampionsJanuary 26, 20083Hawaii, United States
Loss24–8 Trevor Prangley Decision (referee decision) Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives November 16, 200722:12 California, United States
Win24–7Ron FieldsSubmission (strikes) Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion September 29, 200713:02California, United StatesCatchweight (195 lbs) bout.
Win23–7Steve RenaudSubmission (strikes)X-1: Grand Prix 2007August 4, 200710:43Hawaii, United States
Win22–7Mavrick HarveyTKO (submission to strikes)X-1: Extreme Fighting 2March 17, 200712:41Hawaii, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Loss21–7 Jeremy Horn Decision (split)IFL: OaklandJanuary 19, 200754:00California, United States
Win21–6Tony WilliamsKOExtreme Wars 5: BattlegroundsOctober 6, 200612:48Hawaii, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Loss20–6 Robbie Lawler KO (punches)Icon Sport: Lawler vs. Niko 2February 25, 200613:38Hawaii, United States
Loss20–5 Jason Miller Submission (rear naked choke)Icon Sport: Opposites AttractOctober 28, 200522:41Hawaii, United States
Loss20–4 Robbie Lawler KO (punches)Superbrawl: IconJuly 23, 200524:36Hawaii, United States
Win20–3 Masanori Suda KO (punch)SB 39: DestinyApril 9, 200514:07Hawaii, United States
Win19–3Ron FieldsSubmission (heel hook)SuperBrawl 38December 12, 200413:48Hawaii, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win18–3 Yushin Okami Decision (split)SuperBrawl 36June 18, 200435:00Hawaii, United States
Win17–3Keith WintersSubmission (toe hold)SuperBrawl 34March 28, 200411:24Hawaii, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win16–3 Dave Menne Decision (unanimous)SuperBrawl 33February 7, 200435:00Hawaii, United States
Loss15–3 Matt Lindland TKO (submission to strikes) UFC 45 November 21, 200334:23 Connecticut, United States
Win15–2Justin EllisonKOSuperBrawl 31September 20, 200312:35Hawaii, United States
Win14–2 Matt Lindland KO (slam) UFC 43 June 6, 200311:56 Nevada, United States
Win13–2Tyrone RobertsSubmission (toe hold)SuperBrawl 28February 8, 200321:26Hawaii, United States
Win12–2Sean McCullySubmissionSuperBrawl 27November 9, 200210:51Hawaii, United States
Win11–2Pascal GosselinSubmission (armbar)UCC Hawaii: Eruption in HawaiiSeptember 17, 200212:00Hawaii, United States
Win10–2Charlie WesrSubmission (toe hold)Force Fighting Championships 1May 18, 200221:15Hawaii, United States
Win9–2Jason DrexelSubmission (kimura)SuperBrawl 23March 9, 200213:05Hawaii, United States
Loss8–2Sean GrayTKO (punches)Warriors Quest 3: Punishment in ParadiseDecember 1, 200113:47Hawaii, United States
Win8–1John RenkenTKOSuperBrawl 22November 2, 200112:29Hawaii, United States
Win7–1Todd MedinaDecision (unanimous)Warriors Quest 1: The New BeginningMay 29, 200135:00Hawaii, United States
Win6–1Dennis ReedSubmission (armbar)SuperBrawl 21May 24, 200110:43Hawaii, United StatesReturn to Middleweight.
Win5–1Ricardo BarrosTKOWarriors of the New Millennium 2November 24, 200013:44Hawaii, United States
Loss4–1 Yasuhito Namekawa Submission (guillotine choke) RINGS USA: Rising Stars Block B July 22, 200020:27Hawaii, United States Light Heavyweight debut.
Win4–0Aaron TorresSubmission (armbar) KOTC 4: Gladiators June 24, 200012:21California, United States
Win3–0Ahmad ReeseTKO (submission to strikes)Rage in the Cage 3January 18, 200011:41Hawaii, United States
Win2–0Phil OrtizSubmission (armbar)SuperBrawl 15December 7, 199912:39Hawaii, United States
Win1–0 Aaron Riley TKORITC 2: Marching of the WarriorsOctober 15, 199917:06Hawaii, United States

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References

  1. ↑ "Fighting the Good Fight- Falaniko Vitale and Sid Sumida". 8 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Champ Hector Lombard meets Falaniko Vitale in Bellator 44 non-title bout". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 2011-02-25.
  3. ↑ "Vitale hanging up the gloves for the last time". hawaiinewsnow.com. September 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Fighting the Good Fight- Falaniko Vitale and Sid Sumida". 8 August 2016.
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