Author: Daniel Herbertson

Sengoku 14 Preview and Predictions

Filed under: Sengoku, JapanWhile we hear reports of financial troubles over in DREAM, Sengoku is moving forward as Director Taro Mukai predicted “slow and steady.”

Sengoku 14 will feature middleweight champion Jorge Santiago granting Kazuo Misaki a re…

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While we hear reports of financial troubles over in DREAM, Sengoku is moving forward as Director Taro Mukai predicted “slow and steady.”

Sengoku 14 will feature middleweight champion Jorge Santiago granting Kazuo Misaki a rematch in his second title defense, the welterweight and the Asian bantamweight tournaments, Hatsu Hioki returning to Sengoku after capturing Shooto gold and Akihiro Gono will debut at lightweight against a sumo’s friend.

After the break, predictions so good, lets just call them pre-fight results.

Leonardo Santos vs. Sotaro Yamada Announced for SRC 14

Filed under: Sengoku, News, JapanFour-time BJJ World Cup Champion Leonardo Santos will be making his return to the Sengoku ring against the newly recruited “Sengoku training player” Sotaro Yamada at SRC 14 on August 22nd World Victory Road announced Mo…

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Four-time BJJ World Cup Champion Leonardo Santos will be making his return to the Sengoku ring against the newly recruited “Sengoku training player” Sotaro Yamada at SRC 14 on August 22nd World Victory Road announced Monday.

Santos, a Nova Uniao black belt, last fought in Sengoku back in March where he choked out former middleweight and welterweight King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku in the first round.

Yamada holds a MMA record of 6-4-1 but has not fought since 2008 but instead has been focusing on his grappling. Training out of Kazuyuki Miyata’s BRAVE gym and part of Sengoku’s fighter development program, Yamada holds a notable submission victory over CBJJ Mundial Champion and ADCC veteran Ryan Hall.

Full card for SRC 14 after the break.

Yoshihiro Akiyama Believes Money Is Answer to Revive MMA in Japan

Filed under: interview, JapanJapanese fighters have had a pretty good run in the States over the last month.

Takanori Gomi’s stunning KO over Tyson Griffin, Yushin Okami’s takedown defense clinic against Mark Munoz and former Shooto bantamweight and f…

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Japanese fighters have had a pretty good run in the States over the last month.

Takanori Gomi‘s stunning KO over Tyson Griffin, Yushin Okami‘s takedown defense clinic against Mark Munoz and former Shooto bantamweight and featherweight champion Mamoru Yamaguchi‘s first successful defense of his King of the Cage junior flyweight strap against Greg Guzman have lifted the spirits of a country that has been struggling for success over the past few years.

There is a still a long way to go though. Two of the most successful Japanese fighters in the UFC, Yushin Okami and Yoshihiro Akiyama, met with the press for the Japanese announcement of UFC Undisputed 2010 and gave their thoughts on what is needed to revive Japanese MMA.

Yoichiro Sato Retains Shooto Middleweight Pacific Rim Title at Gig Tokyo 5

Filed under: News, JapanYoichirio Sato’s first defense of his Shooto Middleweight Pacific Rim belt could not have gotten off to a worse start.

In the opening seconds, the challenger, Hatsu Hioki stablemate Takasuke Kume, landed a high kick followed b…

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Yoichirio Sato’s first defense of his Shooto Middleweight Pacific Rim belt could not have gotten off to a worse start.

In the opening seconds, the challenger, Hatsu Hioki stablemate Takasuke Kume, landed a high kick followed by a right straight that sent the champion to the mat, almost robbing him of his consciousness. While Sato struggled to regain his composure, Kume rained in ground and pound getting close to getting a referee stoppage at several points over the next three minutes until Sato mustered some defense in the form of offense with heel hook and achilles lock attempts off his back.

In the final two rounds, though Sato well and truly regained control of the bout. The adrenaline dump of going for the early finish sapped Kume of his explosiveness and Sato threatened with a kimura and an omo-plata as well as out-striking and out-wrestling the challenger. After three rounds, all three judges agreed that Sato should retain his strap.

Full results from Shooto Gig Tokyo 5 after the break.

Shinya Aoki: I Thought I Might Have Needed to Destroy the Other Foot Too

Filed under: DREAM, interview, Japan”The foot was cracking and making noise and the joint was already broken, but that was being endured by Kawajiri.”

After his humiliation at the hands of Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce, Shinya Aoki needed to make a…

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“The foot was cracking and making noise and the joint was already broken, but that was being endured by Kawajiri.”

After his humiliation at the hands of Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce, Shinya Aoki needed to make a statement. And he did. The DREAM Lightweight Champion’s first successful title defense against challenger Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.15 was a completely dominating and almost flawless performance.

Aoki spoke following his win about the gruesome specifics of the fight ending achilles lock, becoming his “ideal self”, his much talked about moodiness and his admiration of Gegard Mousasi.

Aoki, Daley, Zaromskis Removed From United Glory’s World Series

Filed under: NewsThe “bait and switch” tactic within the European kickboxing scene is a common method of drumming up some free PR and generating ticket sales and it looks as though Golden Glory’s promotional wing United Glory has employed this tactic f…

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The “bait and switch” tactic within the European kickboxing scene is a common method of drumming up some free PR and generating ticket sales and it looks as though Golden Glory’s promotional wing United Glory has employed this tactic for their “World Series” welterweight MMA tournament which is set to begin on October 16 in Amsterdam.

Shinya Aoki, Paul Daley, Marius Zaromskis, Nick Thompson and Diego Gonzalez were originally announced for the tournament but now have all been inexplicably removed from the card. Given Aoki’s plan to fight at DREAM.16 in September as a lightweight and Paul Daley’s rumored signing with Strikeforce their removal really comes as no surprise.

Of the eight fighters that were originally announced we are left with Siyar Bahadurzada, Roan Carneiro, and Tommy Depret. Both Bahadurzada and Depret train at Golden Glory.