X-1 Events Returns to Hawaii With Champions III

X-1 World Events continues to put their mark on Hawaii and the MMA world. The promotion returns to the island of Oahu on March 12th presenting “Champions III” at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. X-1 is pulling no punches and looks to start off 2011 with a bang as every fight on the card will a title fight.

The main event of the evening pits former UFC, IFL, Strikeforce and current X-1 middleweight champ Falaniko Vitale (28-9 MMA) against X-1 welterweight champ Dylan Clay (8-2 MMA) competing for the middleweight belt. Vitale did not fight in 2009; however in 2010 he posted a pair of victories over former EliteXC fighter Kala Hose in September and former UFC and TUF alum Kalib Starnes in March.

Clay enters the cage coming off of a kimura victory over former UFC fighter Brandon Wolff. The victory over Wolff earned Clay the X-1 welterweight title. Clay has honed his skills all over the world, having trained and competed in Thailand, as well as putting in work on the mainland. This fight is definitely a step up for Clay. A victory over Vitale will solidify Clay as one of the top fighters in Hawaii and should get him national recognition.

Here is the full “Champions III” fight card:

Main event – X-1 World Middleweight Title: (Champion) X1 Middleweight Champion Falaniko Vitale vs. (Challenger) X-1 World Welterweight Champion Dylan Clay

X-1 World Lightweight Title: (Champion) Harris Sarmiento vs. (Challenger) Max Holloway

X-1 World Featherweight Title: (Champion) Ricky Wallace vs. (Challenger) Eben Kaneshiro (Kauai)

X-1 World Bantamweight Title: (Champion) Russell Doane vs. (Challenger) Van Oscar Penovaroff (Kona)

X-1 State Middleweight Title: Sale Sproat (Molokai) vs. Collin Mansanas

X-1 State Featherweight Title: Kurrent Cockett (Maui) vs. Dustin Kimura

X-1 State Welterweight Title: Jordan Kekino (Maui) vs. Zane Kamaka

X-1 State Women’s Bantamweight Title: Nicole Johnson (California) vs. Raquel Paaluhi

X-1 State Heavyweight Title: Puka Bell (Hilo) vs. Lolohea Mahe (Maui)

X-1 State Lightweight Title: Will Shutt (Iowa) vs. Steven Saito

X-1 Amateur Heavyweight Title: Kala Koa (Maui) vs. Paea Paogo

Tags: Dylan Clay, Falaniko Vitale, Hawaii, MMA, X-1

Category: MMA, News