Author: Daniel Herbertson

Maximo Blanco: Destiny Brought Me to Yoshida Dojo

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, interview, JapanDespite his disarming smile and playful demeanor, Maximo Blanco is one of the most violent men in MMA. Slams, soccer kicks, stomps and flying knees are on the menu during a Blanco bout and referees, doct…

Filed under: , ,

Despite his disarming smile and playful demeanor, Maximo Blanco is one of the most violent men in MMA. Slams, soccer kicks, stomps and flying knees are on the menu during a Blanco bout and referees, doctors and his opponents all struggle to duck and cover during the post-fight violence that ensues during his adrenaline dump.

One fight away from a Sengoku Lightweight title match, the Lightweight King of Pancrase spoke with MMAFighting.com about his path to Japan, his Jackie Chan inspired striking and being bullied through university.

Takaya-Beebe, Omigawa-Escovedo, Ishida-Wicky Added to DREAM.16

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanFEG announced three bouts Monday for DREAM’s first domestic primetime event of the year – DREAM.16 to be held on September 25th at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

Hiroyuki Takaya will attempt to back up his stunning…

Filed under: , ,

FEG announced three bouts Monday for DREAM’s first domestic primetime event of the year – DREAM.16 to be held on September 25th at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

Hiroyuki Takaya will attempt to back up his stunning knockout victory over Joachim Hansen against former WEC Bantamweight Champion Chase Beebe, top ten featherweight Michihiro Omigawa will face former WEC Featherweight Champion Cole Escovedo and Mitsuhiro Ishida will continue his featherweight campaign against Akiyo “Wicky” Nishiura who is coming off a career high TKO over Hideo Tokoro.

FEG are currently in final stages of negotiation with Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto and it looks as though Caol Uno, Bibiano Fernandes and Joe Warren who were originally planned, will not be participating.

Shinya Aoki: BJ Penn Didn’t Lose; Wrestlers Have No Risk

Filed under: DREAM, UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, interview, JapanWhen Shinya Aoki claimed the DREAM lightweight belt he ranked himself No. 2 behind his idol BJ Penn. With Frankie Edgar’s second victory over Penn it is clear that there is a new top lightwei…

Filed under: , , , ,

When Shinya Aoki claimed the DREAM lightweight belt he ranked himself No. 2 behind his idol BJ Penn. With Frankie Edgar‘s second victory over Penn it is clear that there is a new top lightweight king, but Aoki isn’t buying it.

“I am really a huge fan of BJ Penn, he is one of my favorite fighters. He lost by decision. When we look at martial arts in it’s most extreme form, we need to win by submission or knockout. In that sense, he didn’t lose. He lost that fight but he is still ‘the man’. He is still my favorite fighter.”

Bantamweight Asia Tournament Matchups Announced for SRC 15

Filed under: Sengoku, News, JapanSengoku Raiden Championship promoter World Victory Road today announced the matchups for SRC Bantamweight Asia Tournament 2010 Quarterfinals, to be held at SRC 15 on October 30 in Tokyo, Japan.

Four seeded fighters fro…

Filed under: , ,

Sengoku Raiden Championship promoter World Victory Road today announced the matchups for SRC Bantamweight Asia Tournament 2010 Quarterfinals, to be held at SRC 15 on October 30 in Tokyo, Japan.

Four seeded fighters from Shooto, Pancrase, Cage Force and ZST have joined the four remaining fighters, brining the total back up to eight. Former Shooto champ Akitoshi Tamura will face Shoko Sato, reigning Bantamweight King of Pancrase Manabu Inoue will take on Jae Hyun So, Cage Force veteran Taiyo Nakahara will return from a two year layoff against Shintaro Ishiwatari and Shunichi Shimizu will represent ZST against Kazushi Sakuraba student Wataru Takahashi.

Leo Santos‘ victory by receiving repeated low blows at SRC 14 was probably not ideal but he will get another chance against Sengoku Training Player Maximo Blanco – the winner a likely candidate for a lightweight title fight on New Year’s Eve.

Giorgio Petrosyan, Artur Kyshenko, Mike Zambidis Return at K-1 MAX Final 16

Filed under: K1, News, JapanK-1 President Sadaharu Tanigawa announced a near completed card for the K-1 World MAX GP FINAL 16 to be held on October 3 in Seoul, South Korea.

2009 K-1 World MAX Champion Giorgio Petrosyan will return to the K-1 ring for …

Filed under: , ,

K-1 President Sadaharu Tanigawa announced a near completed card for the K-1 World MAX GP FINAL 16 to be held on October 3 in Seoul, South Korea.

2009 K-1 World MAX Champion Giorgio Petrosyan will return to the K-1 ring for the first time since claiming his title to face 2010 K-1 MAX Eastern Europe champion Vitaly Hurkou, fan favorite Mike Zambidis will take on 22-year-old Chahid and kyokushin stylist Andrews Nakahara will feature in an MMA super fight against a yet to be named Korean opponent.

Albert Kraus, Yoshihiro Sato and Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima moved on to the Final 8 with their victories back in May.

The full announced card after the break.

DEEP Starting to Confirm Leaked 10th Anniversary Card

Filed under: News, JapanDEEP has announced five more fights for their 10th Anniversary DEEP 50th Impact event, confirming some of the bouts leaked by ticketing service E-Plus,

Ryo Chonan vs Jung Hwan Cha, Hidetaka Monma vs Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Ryuta N…

Filed under: ,

DEEP has announced five more fights for their 10th Anniversary DEEP 50th Impact event, confirming some of the bouts leaked by ticketing service E-Plus,

Ryo Chonan vs Jung Hwan Cha, Hidetaka Monma vs Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Ryuta Noji vs Hiroshi Nagao, Isao Terada vs Yoshiki Harada and Shoji Maruyama vs Tatsunao Nagakura have all be added to the mega-card with the only change from the leak being Jung Hwan Cha stepping in for the Bellator bound Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Chonan will get a shot at revenge after he suffered a shock KO loss to Cha at Astra back in April.

Shinya Aoki, Ikuhisa Minowa, Kazuo Misaki, Won Sik “Parky” Park, Akira Shoji, Daiki “DJ Taiki” Hata and Kazunori Yokota are among the names that were originally leaked as participants by E-Plus but have not yet been made official.

The full announced and rumored cards after the break.