Tag: Koichiro+Matsumoto

Koichiro Matsumoto vs. ‘Lion’ Takeshi Added to DREAM ‘Fight for Japan’

Filed under: DREAM, News, JapanAnother featherweight contest was added to DREAM’s first event of 2011 as event producer Keiichi Sasahara revealed an intriguing battle of counter strikers on Monday. Reigning Deep featherweight champion Koichiro Matsumot…

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Lion TakeshiAnother featherweight contest was added to DREAM’s first event of 2011 as event producer Keiichi Sasahara revealed an intriguing battle of counter strikers on Monday. Reigning Deep featherweight champion Koichiro Matsumoto has agreed to square off with former Shooto 143-pound champion “Lion” Takeshi Inoue.

A bout between DREAM lightweight ace Shinya Aoki and former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner is being targeted, but sources have indicated that no bout agreement has been signed yet and negotiations may have hit a standstill. UFC veterans Antonio McKee and Willamy Freire were also slated to face Aoki but those bouts also fell through.

The May 29 “Fight for Japan” charity event will be a scaled down version of a regular DREAM event due to power shortages and financial issues following the March 11 Japanese earthquake. The current card for DREAM’s first show of 2011 is after the break.

Nippon Weekly: Japanese Fighters Preparing for April Strikeforce Event

Filed under: DREAM, Strikeforce, Sengoku, News, JapanFinally, we have some fights again across the Pacific and it looks as though there might be more to come too.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly, Japanese fighters are preparing for an April 9 Strikef…

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Finally, we have some fights again across the Pacific and it looks as though there might be more to come too.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly, Japanese fighters are preparing for an April 9 Strikeforce event in Tokyo despite reports that the fights will be taking place in America, further scandal in the world of Sumo drowns out UFC 126 hype, Pancrase gets its “Impressive Tour” under way with one of its strongest cards in recent times, Shinya Aoki, Masakazu Imanari and others showcase their wares in Deep and Bob Sapp is wrestling while Kimbo Slice is not.

Nippon Weekly: Strikeforce Considering Heavyweight GP Event in Japan

Filed under: DREAM, Strikeforce, K1, Sengoku, News, JapanThere are still no significant fights on the horizon, but there have been some big moves this week in Japan.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly, Strikeforce is considering holding its second quart…

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There are still no significant fights on the horizon, but there have been some big moves this week in Japan.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly, Strikeforce is considering holding its second quarterfinal round of their Heavyweight GP in Japan, UFC is planning its own Japanese events in 2011 and DREAM co-promoter Real Entertainment and Strikeforce are possibly planning a lightweight tournament sans-FEG.

Nippon Weekly: ‘KID’ Yamamoto Says Dominick Cruz Is Nothing Special

Filed under: DREAM, K1, Sengoku, News, JapanIt has been a week of drama in Japan. No fights, but plenty of drama.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly: Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto sees no challenges in the UFC, Michihiro Omigawa has been training like a man p…

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It has been a week of drama in Japan. No fights, but plenty of drama.

In this edition of Nippon Weekly: Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto sees no challenges in the UFC, Michihiro Omigawa has been training like a man possessed, Shinya Aoki apparently likes MMA again, Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima is a butt-kicking incarnate, managers get drunk and presidents get angry.

Koichiro Matsumoto Captures DEEP Featherweight Title

Filed under: News, JapanKoichiro Matsumoto captured Takafumi Otsuka’s DEEP Featherweight title, and handed the DREAM veteran his third loss in five outings, at DEEP 48 in Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan on Saturday.

Otuska seemed to control the fight over…

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Koichiro Matsumoto captured Takafumi Otsuka‘s DEEP Featherweight title, and handed the DREAM veteran his third loss in five outings, at DEEP 48 in Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan on Saturday.

Otuska seemed to control the fight over three rounds with his wrestling and was never in danger on the feet but three of the five judges saw the bout for Matsumoto.

Korean prospect Won Sik Park also had issues with DEEP officials but he does not yet know the result of his match. Park finished Ruki Ueyama with legal soccer kicks towards the end of round one but the bout was stopped due to an apparent illegal knee although DEEP officials were unable to agree if an illegal blow was thrown and thus unable to render a result.