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[Sakara=Excitement]

Weekend winners include Falaniko Vitale, Jason MacDonald, John Alessio, Ryan Ford, Dan Severn | MMAjunkie.com

Fighting for the first time in a year and a half, Falaniko Vitale scored a first-round submission victory over fellow UFC vet Kalib Starnes to claim the Hawaiian-based X-1 World Events middleweight title on Saturday.

Vitale, who hadn't competed since a decision loss to Frank Trigg in October 2008, next fights Murilo "Ninja" Rua at Shine Fights III in May.

Other weekend winners included Jason MacDonald, John Alessio, Ryan Ford, Ricco Rodriguez and Dan Severn. Former UFC fighters Corey Hill and Shonie Carter, though, suffered setbacks.

Vitale (27-9), fighting in front of his fellow Hawaiians, has now won six of his past eight fights. The 35-year-old delivered Starnes (10-5-1), who was booted from the UFC after a lackluster loss to Nate Quarry, his fourth loss in six fights.

MacDonald and Alessio – also former UFC fighters – picked up their wins at Saturday's "W-1: Bad Blood" event in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. MacDonald (23-13), a late replacement for injured Denis Kang, topped veteran Vernon White (26-34-2) via third-round triangle choke. Alessio (28-13), meanwhile, earned a first-round submission victory via guillotine choke over Chris Clements (6-4).

On the same card Carter (49-22-7) dropped a split decision to Nabil Khatib (10-6).

In other weekend action, Canadian prospect Ford topped "The Ultimate Fighter 6" runner-up Tommy Speer at Friday's "TFC 10: High Voltage" event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ford (12-2) picked up his fourth-straight win with a first-round submission victory over Speer (13-5). Ford holds the organization's welterweight belt, but the fight was made a non-title affair when Speer failed to make weight for the show.

Ford, who had a falling out with the Canadian-based MFC organization, is undefeated since the split.

Speer, meanwhile, had won four of five fights after leaving the UFC before this weekend's setback.

Hill, meanwhile, took the main event slot of Saturday's Xtreme Kombat League event in Ypsilanti, Mich., after former top UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson was a late scratch against Scott Barrett in the would-be headliner.

Hill (3-3), who recently returned from a 13-month layoff due to a nasty broken leg suffered in a UFC Fight Night 16 loss to Dale Hartt, hoped to build off a January decision win over Jason Trzewieczynski. Hill appeared in control of the fight through nearly two rounds but eventually was put on his back and forced to tap out from a kimura.

His opponent, Mark Holst, moves to 8-1 with his eighth stoppage win.

On the same card, former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (40-11) picked up his fifth straight win with a second-round TKO (due to strikes) over Brian Ryan (16-4). Rodriguez dominated the fight on the ground and forced the stoppage via ground and pound midway through the round.

Finally, MMA legend Severn (92-16-7) picked up his 92nd career win with a second-round TKO victory over Buddie Dixon (2-2) at Thursday's "KOTC: Thunderstruck 2" event in Calgary.

[Mac]

Man UFC or Strikeforce needs to take a look at Ryan Ford. This guy is a beast.

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by Mac

Man UFC or Strikeforce needs to take a look at Ryan Ford. This guy is a beast.

Agree 1 billion percent. I've been following him for about the last 2 years, dude is an animal.

[mma #1 fan]

Dan is not going to stop till he get his 100th win

[Sakara=Excitement]

It's nice to see my boy Ricco get another win. He's lost a lot of weight and is in really good shape and should be called up to Strikeforce or the UFC soon.

[QOTSA420]

I really enjoy watching Ryan Ford, and hope he gets signed soon. I'm by no means in a position to tell someone to quit, but I often wonder if Vernon White honestly thinks he has anything left to give.