Author: Daniel Herbertson

Hiroyuki Takaya to Challenge Bibiano Fernandes for DREAM Title

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanK-1 and DREAM promoter FEG announced Friday the first bout for their annual “Dynamite!!” event to be held on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. DREAM Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes will defend h…

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K-1 and DREAM promoter FEG announced Friday the first bout for their annual “Dynamite!!” event to be held on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. DREAM Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes will defend his strap against Hiroyuki Takaya in a rematch of the 2009 Featherweight GP Final where Fernandes took a narrow split decision.

Due to pay disputes with DREAM, Bibiano Fernandes has been relatively inactive over the past twelve months and has only defended his DREAM belt it once, another split decision against Joachim Hansen.

Three months after his loss in the Featherweight GP Final, Hiroyuki Takaya again suffered defeat by way of a first round knockout to Michihiro Omigawa at Dynamite!! 2009. “The Streetfight Bancho” bounced back in 2010 however to claim two impressive first round knockouts over Chase Beebe and Joachim Hansen and has received a significant promotional push over the last two years.

Referee Samio Kimura Knocked Out at Grachan

Filed under: News, Japan

One of the veteran officials of the Japanese fight circuit Samio Kimura was knocked out in the line of duty at Grachan 5 on Nov. 7th when Takeo “Cerberus Take” Shiina first knocked out his opponent Jung Hyun Lee and then assau…

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One of the veteran officials of the Japanese fight circuit Samio Kimura was knocked out in the line of duty at Grachan 5 on Nov. 7th when Takeo “Cerberus Take” Shiina first knocked out his opponent Jung Hyun Lee and then assaulted Kimura.

Shiina dropped Lee with a cross counter early in the first round and then as Kimura jumped in to stop the fight on the ground, Shiina continued throwing strikes – hitting the referee with a hammerfist to the back of the head and a knee to either the face or body. Shiina was then confronted and challenged by DREAM veteran Won Sik Park and rightfully disqualified.

FEG, Sengoku Outline End of Year Plans

Filed under: DREAM, K1, Sengoku, News, JapanSengoku continues its unique approach to mixed martial arts in Japan as the promotion announced Monday its plans for a 25-plus fight “martial arts festival” to be held on Dec. 30 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tok…

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Sengoku continues its unique approach to mixed martial arts in Japan as the promotion announced Monday its plans for a 25-plus fight “martial arts festival” to be held on Dec. 30 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.

The event is to feature around 10 MMA fights, 10 stand-up rules fights, 4-5 women’s fights as well as three mixed martial arts fights between traditional martial artists. Dubbed “Soul of Fight”, the event is planned to be a family friendly and festival-like atmosphere.

FEG President Sadaharu Tanigawa was also present at the announcement and expressed a desire to continue building the working relationship with Sengoku. Tanigawa and FEG will likely be assisting in putting together the stand-up bouts on the Sengoku card as FEG’s Dynamite!! will only be featuring around 10-13 fights this year with the focus on MMA.

Giorgio Petrosyan Dominates K-1 World Max GP

Filed under: K1, JapanTOKYO — Giorgio Petrosyan once again proved that he is the best kickboxer in the world as he won an unprecedented second consecutive K-1 WORLD MAX GP at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. The prohibitive favorite, Petrosyan defeated Albert K…

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TOKYO — Giorgio Petrosyan once again proved that he is the best kickboxer in the world as he won an unprecedented second consecutive K-1 WORLD MAX GP at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. The prohibitive favorite, Petrosyan defeated Albert Kraus, Mike Zambidis and finally Yoshihiro Sato all by unanimous decision to capture his second K-1 crown.

Both Kraus and Sato were picked apart through three rounds, barely managing to hit the Italian and finding themselves punished with cracking kicks and punches after every mistake. Mike Zambidis put on the best show against the champion as he recovered from a disastrous first round where he was unable to touch Petrosyan, to draw him into an entertaining fire-fight in the second and third rounds but Petrosyan’s knees and counter punching once again saw him reign supreme and he barely took a step backwards against the heavy-hitting Greek.

In the sole MMA rules match on the card, Beijing Judo Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii defeated Katsuyori Shibata by kimura in the first round, breaking the pro-wrestler’s arm at the elbow with the lock. Shibata had little to offer the judoka and as dominated positionally on the ground before getting his arm broken.

K-1 World Max 70kg Final Predictions

Filed under: K1, JapanOne year of 70kg (154-pound) K-1 action will finally reach a climax on Monday as the reigning champion and the world’s best kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan will attempt to defend his title at the K-1 World Max 2010 70kg World Champion…

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One year of 70kg (154-pound) K-1 action will finally reach a climax on Monday as the reigning champion and the world’s best kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan will attempt to defend his title at the K-1 World Max 2010 70kg World Championship tournament final in Tokyo, Japan.

Veterans Mike Zambidis, Yoshihiro Sato, Drago and Albert Kraus, and relative newcomers Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima, Mohamed Khamal and Michal Glogowski, will all be attempting to dethrone “The Doctor” and take the most prestigious title in kickboxing. Also, in MMA action Beijing judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii will look to take the next step in his career when he faces “Mad Dog Wrestler” Katsuyori Shibata.

After the break, predictions so good that we may as well call them pre-fight results.

Fighters on Weight for K-1 MAX Finals, Katsuyori Shibata Replaces Nansen

Filed under: K1, News, JapanAll K-1 fighters successfully made weight at the Ikebukuro Hotel Metropolitan for Monday’s K-1 WORLD MAX 2010 -70kg World Championship Tournament Final to be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

The sole MMA bout …

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All K-1 fighters successfully made weight at the Ikebukuro Hotel Metropolitan for Monday’s K-1 WORLD MAX 2010 -70kg World Championship Tournament Final to be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

The sole MMA bout one the card between Beijing Judo Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii and New Zealand’s Antz Nansen will not being going ahead as planned to Nansen failing his pre-fight medicals. Nansen broke his right thumb approximately three months ago and since having surgery the swelling has not subsided.

Stepping in for Nansen will be Kazushi Sakuraba teammate Katsuyori Shibata. Shibata is coming in on one days notic and lost via a first round TKO loss to Deep Light-Heavyweight Champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi at Deep 50 only two weeks ago.

MMA convert Seichi Ikemoto and 63kg Japan GP entrant Shunsuke Oishi were both slightly over on their first attempts at making weight but after stripping down, both fighters were able to make their respective weight limits.