The main event of the evening saw local standout and UFC veteran Niko Vitale against PRIDE veteran Yushin Okami. This one was sort of anticlimactic, with Niko trying to close distance and punch and Okami trying to clinch and force the takedown. Several times he got Niko to the ground, but to no avail, as Niko neutralized him long enough every time to force a stand up. Toward the end Niko got his hands going and flurried enough to rattle Okami, but he never convincingly pounded him.
In the closing seconds Okami clinched and was winded enough to look up at the clock on the ceiling to check the time (great look on his face in the picture). The fight ended in a split decision for Niko, who is hoping to gain a berth in PRIDE with his win. Only time will tell, but with the bidding war and need for exciting young fighters from abroad in Japan right now, chances seem pretty good that Niko may be headed to the land of the rising sun before too long.
That’s it for this go round. Check back in July for results from the Shooto event being held in Hawaii, featuring some HUGE names in lightweight fighting. Aloha!
