Falaniko Vitale made quick work of his opponent Saturday night at the Blaisdell Arena, but not before a near brawl overshadowed the co-main event of an X-1 World Events mixed martial arts card.

While Vitale improved his record to 23-7 with a knockout of California's Steve Renaud, 43 seconds into the first round, the outcome was dampened by a ruckus that involved an estimated 25 people who either jumped into the ring or were standing outside the ropes on the canvas.

It erupted during the long-awaited rematch between Hilo's Ross Ebanez and Kalihi's Mark Moreno that preceded Vitale's bout.

With under two minutes left in the second of three scheduled rounds, referee George Adkins attempted to break Ebanez and Moreno, who were at the edge of the ring, and restart the combatants standing.

"Mark had a tight guillotine (choke) in," Adkins said. "They went toward the ropes (and) Mark was through the ropes, his butt was on the canvas heading out of the ring. I yelled 'stop,' put my hands on both fighters."

The pair unlocked grips, but as Ebanez was moving inward, Moreno struck him with a right hand to the jaw.

"Ross slowly started to get up because he knew I was going to start him back in the middle," Adkins said. "For some reason, I don't know if Mark just didn't hear me yell, I don't know. He threw about three punches before I could officially stop the fight."

Said Ebanez: "I was getting ready to take him down and then the ref broke us up and I heard 'stop' and I stopped. I guess maybe (Moreno) didn't hear it. I got up, fell down and (Moreno) came with the punch."

Ebanez suffered a stinger and could not bite down on his mouthpiece. According to Adkins, the ringside doctor ruled Ebanez could not continue as a result and the fight was ruled a no contest.

"All I know is we started to roll, but I didn't hear nothing so I stood back up and I never heard nothing so I just bulldozed him over. I kept going," Moreno said. "You going stop one fight, you gotta let me know you stopping the damn fight. I never know what was going on."

X-1 promoter Mike Miller said: "What I saw could have went both ways. The ref did break, but the ref maybe didn't get Mark's attention to the fullest. I could understand if Mark acknowledged the referee, but if you actually watch the video, Mark didn't acknowledge the referee. Ross, of course, he's on his back, he wants to get up, but in Mark's case, his attention wasn't there from what I saw."

As Ebanez lay on the canvas near his infuriated corner, Moreno approached Ebanez's corner, which took offense.

The rush of people — mostly backing the two fighters — to the ring was restrained by security and police officers and no punches were thrown.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion B.J. Penn, who trains with Ebanez, felt the situation could have been avoided.

"I think it was just a bunch of confusion," Penn said. "It was three people who were confused about what was going on, I think. The ref should have jumped in."

Moreno's X-1 welterweight championship belt was not on the line and his status as champion will not be affected, said Miller, who added that he'd like to see a third — and final — fight between the two.

"It should be a trilogy," he said. "I think maybe even next time there should be an absolute title match."

Ebanez said he is willing, but hesitant.

"Yeah, I would fight him again," he said. "(But) I don't know who wants to watch a third fight ... maybe not in X-1 ... I don't know if I'll fight here again or not."

Moreno, who is expected to fight for UFC in November, was quick to offer a rematch.

"Yeah. Why not? Let's do it," he said.

Vitale caught Renaud with a straight right hand that sent the California fighter to the canvas and the referee immediately called the contest. Renaud's record fell to 3-3.

"I think he was trying to go for a back kick. I caught him with my right hand and I followed with a left hook," said Vitale, who donated his entire purse to the Central Pacific Youth Inc. West O'ahu Project.

"I've been training hard for this, especially my stand up for the last year," Vitale said. "I felt comfortable in the ring and I'm glad I could get the knockout. Cherry on top of the pie. Perfect."

Brazil's Marcelo Tigre defeated Vernon White in the other co-main event. White forfeited during the first round due to a hand injury.

The matchup of twin brothers was dominated by the Wolffs of Kailua.

Brenton Wolff got into a mount on Bu Nahiwawa before unleashing numerous blows to his head and the referee eventually stopped the contest at 2:36 in the first round.

Brandon Wolff beat Shu Nahiwawa in the same fashion, with shots to the side of the head from the mount. The match was stopped at the 3:02 mark.

Hilo's Wesley "Cabbage" Correira forfeited his 265-pound fight against Deutsch Pu'u after failing his physical.

Michael Brightmon defeated Andre Shaolin in the final of the eight-man open weight-class tournament by unanimous decision.

Brightmon controlled the one-round, five-minute bout despite being stood up twice by the referee for stalling while trying to work through Shaolin's guard.

"Everybody didn't believe in me," Brightmon said. "This is for everybody who said I can't do it."

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

Rob Hesia def. Brennan Kamaka, TKO, 3:35, first round; Tait Fletcher def. Augie Padeken, split decision; Brenton Wolff def. Bu Nahiwawa, TKO, 2:36, first round; Brandon Wolff def. Shu Nahiwawa, TKO, 3:02, first round; Deutsch Pu'u def. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira, forfeit (failed physical).

Eight-man Open Weight Tournament—Quarterfinals: Michael Brightmon def. Cory Gifford, unanimous decision; Derek Thornton def. Robin Clark, choke submission, 3:22, first round; Chris Bernard def. Kimo Lani, forfeit, 3:57, first round; Maui Wolfgramm def. Andre Shaolin, unanimous decision (Wolfgramm unable to continue due to injury, Shaolin advanced). Semifinals: Brightmon def. Thornton, unanimous decision; Shaolin def. Bernard, choke submission, 4:00, first round. Final: Brightmon def. Shaolin, unanimous decision.