9/23 Sengoku 10 - The Fresh King of Pancrase fighting

The newly crowned King of Pancrase has been added to the upcoming Sengoku card, Maximo Blanco have always been a very talented fighter his problem has been containing his enthusiasm. This time he will take on the very talented Tetsuya Yamada, who was very impressive in his loss in the featherweight GP. He is still very young, and weight gain is natural he will move up to lightweight and his first fight will be a tough one.

There are also 3 opening fights added, these are the winners of the Sengoku G tournamnets in Japan and Korea taking eachother on.

This looks to be another very interesting event from Sengoku, to be held in Saitama Community Arena. They seemed to have settled on a format of very talented fighter forming the opening fights, and I think it is a very good way of giving these young fighters invaluable experience.

Added:
Maximo Blanco 3-2-1 vs. 3-1-0 Tetsuya Yamada
Kazunori Yokota 9-2-3 vs. 20-11-1 Ryan Schultz

Opening fights:
Light: Ikuo Usuda 5-0-0 vs. 1-0-0 Baek Woo Hyun
Feather: Shigeki Osawa 3-0-0 vs. Kim Ki Hyun
Bantam: Ryosuke Komori 4-1-0 vs. So Jee Hyun

Participants:
Hiroshi Izumi (debut)
Makoto Takimoto 5-5-0
Antonio Silva 12-1-0
Joe Doerksen 42-12-0

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9/23 Sengoku 10 - Participants announced

Yesterday Sengoku had their 9th event, they also introduced a judging system where the judge can chose the fighter they like. I have to say I hate the way they developed the "must" system. It allowes the judge to chose the fighter, if they rule it a draw.

Anyway, the card was solid, Kanehara vs. Hioki was fight of the night, and Sengoku got their Japanese champion.

Anyway, looking forward to Sengoku 10, there are some very interesting fighters announced. I just hope they dump the "must" system. They have really signed some very good fighters, and managed well they can attract a lot of new fans.

Announced for this event are:
-Athen Olympics judo silver medalist, Hiroshi Izumi.
-Sydney judo gold medalist, Makoto Takimoto.
-The fighter that knocked the new Sengoku lightweight champion out of the tournament, Kazunori Yokota.
-Former EliteXC heavyweight champion, Antonio Silva.
-Former IFL lightweight champion, Ryan Schultz.
-Former WEC title contender, Joe Doerksen.

Participant:
Hiroshi Izumi (debut)
Makoto Takimoto 5-5-0
Kazunori Yokota 9-2-3
Antonio Silva 12-1-0
Ryan Schultz 20-11-1
Joe Doerksen 42-12-0

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1/4 Sengoku no Ran 2009 - Results

A very interesting Card in Saitama Super Arena today! And there are spoilers if you read on!

Making their Sengoku debuts were Dave Herman and Antonio Silva. 2008 was a year with several upsets, and 2009 has started out like that too! King Mo again proved that he is a force in Sengoku and it will be interesting to see where he goes in 2009, he is growing into a big Sengoku star and it will be interesting to see who will challenge him next!


There were also 2 title fights on this card. The Sengoku title fights are 5 rounds, something that is a new thing in Japan and it might not have suited Misaki who was choked out in the last round.

Satoru Kitaoka made it a double for the GP winners, even though he admits in his speach that Gomi is popular. Kitaoka says that Gomi didnt perform 100% and he would like a rematch!

Fight order:
9. Main-Event: Light Weight Title Fight:
Satoru Kitaoka Def. Takanori Gomi by heel-hook Round 1 1:41

8. Middle Title Fight:
Jorge Santiago Def. Kazuo Misaki by rear-naked choke Round 5 3:26

7. Light-Heavy: Sanae Kikuta Def. Hidehiko Yoshida by decision 2-1
Both fighters enter the ring with NO gi.

In the intermission Satoshi Ishii enters the Sengoku ring wearing a UFC shirt! It is also announced that the first event of 2009 will be March 20 and it will feature the featherweight tournament.

6. Light-Heavy: Muhammed Lawal "King Mo" Def. Yukiya Naito by TKO Round 1 3:54
5. Heavy: Antonio Silva Def. Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao by TKO Round 1 1:42
4. Light: Eiji Mitsuoka Def. Sergey Golyaev by arm-bar Round 1 4:44
3. Heavy: Choi Mu Bae Def. Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman by TKO Round 22:22

Opening Fights:
2. Light: Maximo Blanco Def. Seigo Inoue by TKO Round 1 0:38
1. Light-Heavy: Hidetaka Irie Def. Minoru Kato by TKO Round 2 4:21

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1/4 Sengoku no Ran 2009 - Weigh-In

Tomorrow is Sengoku's New Year's event, and it should be one of their best so far! They are showing off some new signings in addition to 2 title fights.

All fighters made weight, and I have to say that I am impressed with Hidehiko Yoshida. He has lost a lot of weight to get down into the light-heavyweight division, I believe he has lost around 15-20kg for this fight!

9. Main-Event: Lightweight Title Fight:
Takanori Gomi 69.8kg
Satoru Kitaoka 70.0kg

8. Middleweight Title Fight:
Jorge Santiago 82.2kg
Kazuo Misaki 82.7kg

7. Light-Heavyweight:
Hidehiko Yoshida 92.9kg
Sanae Kikuta 91.4kg

6. Light-Heavyweight:
Muhammed Lawal "King Mo" 92.8kg
Yukiya Naito 91.8kg

5. Heavyweight:
Antonio Silva 118.2kg
Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao 102.4

4. Lightweight:
Eiji Mitsuoka 69.9kg
Sergey Golyaev 69.8kg

3. Heavyweight:
Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman 110.3kg
Choi Mu Bae 118.3kg

Opening Fights:
2. Lightweight:
Maximo Blanco 70.0kg
Seigo Inoue 69.9kg

1. Light-Heavyweight:
Hidetaka Irie 92.7kg
Minoru Kato 92.1kg

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1/4 Sengoku no Ran 2009 - Fight Order Announced

Sengoku have announced the fight order for their New Years Event. I was hoping for 1-2 more fights, but the card should be very good none the less.

The main event is the lightweight title fight between last year's tournament winner, Satoru Kitaoka and Takanori Gomi. The co-main event is the Middleweight title fight between Jorge Santiago and Kazuo Misaki. These fights are really what this card is all about.

Sengoku is showing off some new signings as well, Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman and Antonio Silva will make their Sengoku debuts. Rising star "King Mo" will also return, so it should be a very good night of fights and entertainment.

Fight Order:
9. Main-Event: Light Weight Title Fight:
Takanori Gomi 29-4-0 vs. 23-8-9 Satoru Kitaoka

8. Middle Title Fight: Jorge Santiago 20-7-0 vs. 21-8-2 Kazuo Misaki
7. Light-Heavy: Hidehiko Yoshida 8-6-1 vs. 27-6-3 Sanae Kikuta
6. Light-Heavy: Muhammed Lawal "King Mo" 2-0-0 vs. 15-4-2 Yukiya Naito
5. Heavy: Antonio Silva 11-1-0 vs. 7-1-0 (2NC) Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao
4. Light: Eiji Mitsuoka 14-6-2 vs. 12-6-0 Sergey Golyaev
3. Heavy: Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman 13-0-0 vs. 7-3-0 Choi Mu Bae

Opening Fights:
2. Light: Maximo Blanco 1-1-0 (1NC) vs. 5-5-1 Seigo Inoue
1. Light-Heavy: Hidetaka Irie vs. Minoru Kato

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1/4 Sengoku - King Mo's opponent announced

King Mo has become a star in Sengoku this year, he is exciting to watch and has a show to go with it. There is no way Sengoku would not have him on this card. His opponent is the way more experienced Yukiya Naito. Naito is on a 6 fight winning streak, and this should be a very good fight.

Also added are 2 opening fights, Maximo Blanco gets his shot at the big time after paying his dues in Pancrase this year. I thought Blanco lost his chance at getting into this event after his loss in the last Pancrase event, but he is an exciting fighter and an opening fight will be good experience for him. Blanco is facing DEEP fighter Seigo Inoue, Inoue is experienced but I think Blanco will be too strong for him.

The other opening fight is between "Kingdom Ehrgeize" fighter Hidetaka Irie and Minoru Kato.

Added:
Light-Heavy: Muhammed Lawal "King Mo" 2-0-0 vs. 15-4-2 Yukiya Naito

Opening Fights:
Light: Maximo Blanco 1-1-0 (1NC) vs. 5-5-1 Seigo Inoue
Light-Heavy: Hidetaka Irie vs. Minoru Kato

Previously announced:
Heavy: Antonio Silva 11-1-0 vs. 7-1-0 (2NC) Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao
Light-Heavy: Hidehiko Yoshida 8-6-1 vs. 27-6-3 Sanae Kikuta
Light: Takanori Gomi 29-4-0 vs. 23-8-9 Satoru Kitaoka
Middle: Jorge Santiago 20-7-0 vs. 21-8-2 Kazuo Misaki
Light: Eiji Mitsuoka 14-6-2 vs. 12-6-0 Sergey Golyaev
Heavy: Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman 13-0-0 vs. 7-3-0 Choi Mu Bae

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1/4 Sengoku no Ran 2009 - Dave Herman facing Choi Mu Bae

Sengoku have announced the match-up between Dave Herman and Korean Choi Mu Bae. Herman is a very experienced fighter, and a veteran of EliteXC. His debut in Japan will come against Korean Greco-Roman wrestler Choi Mu Bae.

Bae is not an opponent to be taken lightly, but "Pee-Wee" Herman should be favorite in this fight. It is also interesting to note that it looks like Sengoku is attracting more of the EliteXC talent.

Added:
Heavy: Dave "Pee-Wee" Herman 13-0-0 vs. 7-3-0 Choi Mu Bae

Previously announced:
Heavy: Antonio Silva 11-1-0 vs. 7-1-0 (2NC) Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao
Light-Heavy: Hidehiko Yoshida 8-6-1 vs. 27-6-3 Sanae Kikuta
Light: Takanori Gomi 29-4-0 vs. 23-8-9 Satoru Kitaoka
Middle: Jorge Santiago 20-7-0 vs. 21-8-2 Kazuo Misaki
Light: Eiji Mitsuoka 14-6-2 vs. 12-6-0 Sergey Golyaev

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1/4 Sengoku - Mitsuoka vs. Golyaev Announced

Golyaev beat Sengoku star Gomi in the last Sengoku event. It was a contorversial decision, made even more so when you see it in the perspective that Gomi now has a title fight against Kitaoka. But Golyaev gets a fight on the Sengoku January 4 card as well, he will face Japanese star Eiji Mitsuoka.

It should be a very good fight! Mitsuoka lost in the Sengoku GP to Kitaoka, but beat Rodrigo Damm to reach the semi-final in that GP. Maybe the winner of this fight will be the first title defense for the new champion? We will see, this is shaping up to be a very good event!

Also made official were the plans of holding a featherweight tournament next year. Plans are for a 16 tournament with 1st round in March, second round will be in May and finals in July.


Added:
Eiji Mitsuoka 14-6-2 vs. 12-6-0 Sergey Golyaev

Previously announced:
Antonio Silva 11-1-0 vs. 7-1-0 (2NC) Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao
Hidehiko Yoshida 8-6-1 vs. 27-6-3 Sanae Kikuta
Takanori Gomi 29-4-0 vs. 23-8-9 Satoru Kitaoka
Jorge Santiago 20-7-0 vs. 21-8-2 Kazuo Misaki

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1/4 Sengoku - Antonio Silva removes any doubts, James Thompson returning to Japan?

A couple of interviews, and it looks like we can add a name to this event.

Antonio Silva has had a shadow over his name and doubts that he could compete in Japan after being suspened in the States. He answers this in an interview with Tatame.com:

Do you think fighting at Japan may be a problem in a possible return to the United States, after the suspension?


No way. We’ve closed with Japan because I’m a professional, I have family, I have a very high cost of living and, besides, I have to fight, be in evidence, and now recently I’ve made further examinations that did not accept, because it was in a particular laboratory, but we’ll do another examination, this time along with a police officer for the Commission of Florida, and will go to the common justice. I simply can’t be accused for something I haven’t done, this story is not over yet. I’m going forward with it and will be solved. I’ll do these fights in Japan until I fix this. They (Athletic Comission) are more flexible now, contacted Alex (Davis, manager of the fighter), saying that after the Armando Garcia’s leaving they don’t want confusion, they want to review the case. They know no one ever fought like I'm fighting for that because they were all guilty, but I’m not.

The rest of the interview is here.

And it looks like James Thompson will make a return to Japan, MMAJunkie.com has had an interview with his manager, Ken Pavia, where he confirms that "It's just a matter of opponents". So hopefully we get to see both these fighters on the Sengoku NYE card (Jan. 4).

The full interview here.

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1/4 Sengoku - Antonio Silva Debuting!

Sengoku have announced one more fight for their NYE (on January 4) card. The addition of Antonio Silva strengthes their heavy weight division and it is a very good addition for them.

The EliteXC champion is taking on Pride veteran Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao. Nakao's claim to fame is really kissing Heath Herring 3 years ago. Herring preceeded to KO Nakao before the fight had started. Nakao is giving up about 40kg in this fight.

The question now is, how long before we see even more EliteXC fighters coming to Japan? I have a feeling Sengoku is signing up a lot of these fighters lately.

Added:
Antonio Silva 11-1-0 vs. 7-1-0 (2NC) Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao

Previously announced:
Hidehiko Yoshida 8-6-1 vs. 27-6-3 Sanae Kikuta
Takanori Gomi 29-4-0 vs. 23-8-9 Satoru Kitaoka
Jorge Santiago 20-7-0 vs. 21-8-2 Kazuo Misaki

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