8/8 Pancrase Neo-Blood Finals - Fights Added

Pancrase continues to add fights to their event on August 8. This card is enough for 2 events, but that just means that it should be an awesome event!

Today 2 Pancrase stars have had their opponents announced. Koji Oishi is facing a very interesting Brazilian opponent in Felipe Olivieri. The talented fighter from Nova Uniao has only gone the distance once in his career, and that ended in a loss. Koji Oishi had a lot more experience and I think this looks like an interesing matchup.

Kenji Arai is facing Takumi Murata, who returned to the ring in June after almost 3 years off. He is on a 4 fight losing streak, and Kenji Arai will not be an easy opponent.

This card now has 18 fights on it, and it doesnt get much better!

Added:
Light: Koji Oishi 18-8-6 vs. 5-1-0 Felipe Olivieri
Feather: Kenji Arai 14-13-3 vs. 4-9-6 Takumi Murata
Fly: Toshihiro Shimizu 4-7-2 vs. 3-1-0 Daisuke Tsujita

Previously Announced:
Middleweight King of Pancrase Title Fight:
Izuru Takeuchi (Champion) 25-10-6 vs. 9-5-4 Takenori Sato

Lightweight King of Pancrase Title Fight:
Katsuya Inoue (champion) 18-6-4 vs. 2-2-1 Maximo Blanco

Middle: Yuki Kondo 49-23-6 vs. Kim Ki-Beom (?)
Welter: Masahiro Toryu 6-4-4 vs. 24-30-11 Kosei Kubota
Feather: Tashiro "Akai" Nishiuchi 11-5-9 vs. 13-4-3 Tomonari Kanomata
Light: Kenichi Serizawa 5-3-3 vs. 6-7-0 Eriya Matsuda
Welter: Asaki Honda 5-3-1 vs. 1-1-1 Shingo Suzuki
Feather: Hideo Matsui 0-7-2 vs. 2-0-0 Yusuke Kawanako
Light: Keigo Hirayama 7-5-3 vs. 2-2-1 Junichi Ota
Light: Flavio Tanaka 1-1-0 vs. 1-0-0 Juntaro Ami
Bantam: Shoko Sato 3-1-0 vs. 1-3-0 Ryo Saito

Neo-Blood Tournament Finals:
Fly: Yuichiro Yajima 7-6-1 vs. 2-2-1 Kiyotaka Shimizu
Bantam: Ryota Sasaki 3-2-1 vs. 2-4-1 Nobuhiro Yoshitake
Feather: Shigeyuki Uchiyama 6-0-0 vs. 1-0-0 Yo Saito
Light: Hiroshi Toyama vs. 3-0-0 Isao Kobayashi

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8/8 Pancrase Neo-Blood Finals

Pancrase have announced another 6 fights for the next Changing Tour event, this event will also be the Neo-Blood finals.

Added is one of Pancrase's biggest stars, Yuki Kondo, who will be taking on debutant (as far as I know) Kim Ki-Beom. Yuki Kondo is a fighter that has seen it all and fought at all levels in his very long career, he will draw a crowd to watch this fight. Kondo is coming off a loss to Yuki Sasaki in Sengoku and he will be looking to bounce back here.

Also added is a very interesting match-up betweeen Tashiro "Akai" Nishiuchi and Cage Warriors veteran Tomonari Kanomata.

In addition to the Neo-Blood finals, there are 2 title fights on this card as well. Sengoku training fighter, Maximo Blanco gets a shot at the Pancrase lightweight title against the experienced champion, Katsuya Inoue. It will be war, and if he contains his excitement, I think Blanco will outpower his opponent.

Added:
Middle: Yuki Kondo 49-23-6 vs. Kim Ki-Beom (?)
Welter: Masahiro Toryu 6-4-4 vs. 24-30-11 Kosei Kubota
Feather: Tashiro "Akai" Nishiuchi 11-5-9 vs. 13-4-3 Tomonari Kanomata
Light: Kenichi Serizawa 5-3-3 vs. 6-7-0 Eriya Matsuda
Welter: Asaki Honda 5-3-1 vs. 1-1-1 Shingo Suzuki
Feather: Hideo Matsui 0-7-2 vs. 2-0-0 Yusuke Kawanako

Previously Announced:
Middleweight King of Pancrase Title Fight:
Izuru Takeuchi (Champion) 25-10-6 vs. 9-5-4 Takenori Sato

Lightweight King of Pancrase Title Fight:
Katsuya Inoue (champion) 18-6-4 vs. 2-2-1 Maximo Blanco

Light: Keigo Hirayama 7-5-3 vs. 2-2-1 Junichi Ota
Light: Flavio Tanaka 1-1-0 vs. 1-0-0 Juntaro Ami
Bantam: Shoko Sato 3-1-0 vs. 1-3-0 Ryo Saito
Fly: Keiji Nakamura 0-2-0 vs. 3-1-0 Daisuke Tsujita

Neo-Blood Tournament Finals:
Fly: Yuichiro Yajima 7-6-1 vs. 2-2-1 Kiyotaka Shimizu
Bantam: Ryota Sasaki 3-2-1 vs. 2-4-1 Nobuhiro Yoshitake
Feather: Shigeyuki Uchiyama 6-0-0 vs. 1-0-0 Yo Saito
Light: Hiroshi Toyama vs. 3-0-0 Isao Kobayashi

Participating:
Kenji Arai
Koji Oishi

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2/1 Pancrase Changing Tour 1 - Fights Announced!

Pancrase was IMO one of the most improved promotions last year. They will hold their first event of 2009 February 1 in Differ Ariake and they are looking to continue their momentum.

Pancrase have confirmed an opponent for their veteran Takafumi Ito. Ito has fought every year (except 2000) since his Pancrase debut 14 (!) years ago, and all except 2 of his 71 fights have been in Pancrase. This time he is taking on a new comer in "AB", last year's Neo-Blood tournament finalist. "AB" has had a very hard Pancrase career so far, being fed to some of the best talent around, so don't pay too much attention to his record. I really hope he gets to show something in this fight.

Added:
Feather: Masaya Takita "J-Taro" 9-10-2 vs. 19-4-0 Jameel "The Sargent" Massouh
Fly: Takuya Eizumi 3-1-0 vs. 3-4-0 Tokuaki Ninomiya
Welter: Shingo Suzuki 1-0-0 vs. 5-3-0 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto
Light: Takafumi Ito 34-27-10 vs. 0-2-0 Hiroki "AB" Aoki

Previously Announced:
Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 10-5-5 Masanori Kanehara
Welter: Asaki Honda 4-3-1 vs. 24-28-10 Kousei Kubota
Middle: Ryuji Ohori 3-3-0 vs. 7-5-4 Takenori Sato

Participating:
Katsuya Inoue 17-6-3

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2/1 Pancrase Changing Tour 1 - First Fights Announced!

Pancrase have announced the first 3 fights for their Changing Tour debut. ZST standout, Masanori Kanehara will be making his Pancrase debut against Kenji Arai. Arai had an ok 2008, and will be looking to improve in 2009. He starts the year ranked #3 and his goal would be to get the title.

Also added is the welterweight bout between Asaki Honda and Kousei Kubota. Honda went 0-2 (lost to the finalists in the welterweight tournament) in 2008, he will be looking to start 2009 off with a win! Kubota returns to Pancrase after 5 years fighting mainly in DEEP. He is an experienced competitor that seems to have been around much longer than his 31 years would suggest, he made his Pancrase debut in 1997. Also added is the middleweight fight between Ryuji Ohori and Takenori Sato.

Lets hope Pancrase is able to start 2009 on the same note they left 2008, the last few events have really been good!

Announced:
Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 10-5-5 Masanori Kanehara
Welter: Asaki Honda 4-3-1 vs. 24-28-10 Kousei Kubota
Middle: Ryuji Ohori 3-3-0 vs. 7-5-4 Takenori Sato

Participating:
Takafumi Ito 34-27-10
Yuichi Ikari 10-5-3

The event will be held in Differ Ariake. This event will have some Neo-Blood Tournament fights, that means an early start, 14:30. The main card will start at 17:00.

Ticket Prices:
SS: 10,000円
A: 8,000円
B: 6,000円
C: 5,000円

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - RESULTS

An awesome card in Differ Ariake today! The main event was for the Featherweight King of Pancrase title between the undefeated Brazilian Marlon Sandro and the experienced Masaya Takita "J-Taro".

Also on the card was a Welterweight Tournament, the winner of which will get a shot at the Welterweight King of Pancrase title belt.

Other fighters on this card included the Pancrase favorite Kenji Arai, Takuya Wada, Takafumi Ito and Yukio Sakaguchi.

Main-Event: Featherweight King of Pancrase
Marlon Sandro Def. Masaya Takita "J-Taro" by Decision 3-0

Feather: Kenji Arai vs. Tashiro Akai DRAW
Welter: Takuya Wada vs. Masahiro Toryu DRAW
Light: Yukio Sakaguchi Def. Yuichi Ikari by KO Round 1 0:21
Light: Takafumi Ito Def. Takaichi Hirayama by Decision 3-0

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Hiroyuki Nozawa Def. Asaki Honda by Decision 3-0
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya Def. "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto by Decision 3-0

Fly: Takuya Eizumi Def. Takayuki Hirayasu by TKO Round 2 1:55
Feather: Wataru Takahashi vs. Hiroshi Tanaka DRAW

Pancrase Gate:
Light: Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi DRAW

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - Fight Order Official

Pancrase have announced the fight order for their event October 26 in Differ Ariake (be careful not to go to Korakuen Hall!).

The main event, not unexpected, is the featherweight King of Pancrase fight between the undefeated Brazilian Marlon Sandro and “J-Taro”. Sandro won his last fight in spectacular fashion against Pancrase ledgend Miki Shida, who retired after the fight. Takita has fought agaist Shida himself, but that was back in 2004 and he lost. This should be an interesting fight, but I would pick Marlon Sandro to get out on top.

Otherwise, a good card. Kenji Arai has performed better lately, something that has improved his Pancrase ranking as well (currently #4).

There is a Welterweight Tournament on this card as well. The winners of these will fight in December. The winner there earns the right to face the intrim champion, Takuya Wada, for the title in the spring.

Ikari vs. Sakaguchi should also be a good fight. Sakaguchi always comes out strong, even though his record is not great, his fights have been very entertaining.

Main-Event: Featherweight King of Pancrase
10. Marlon Sandro 11-0-0 vs. 9-9-2 Masaya Takita "J-Taro"

9. Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 9-5-7 Tashiro Akai
8. Welter: Takuya Wada 17-8-8 vs. 6-3-3 Masahiro Toryu
7. Light: Yuichi Ikari 10-4-3 vs. 2-3-0 Yukio Sakaguchi
6. Light: Takafumi Ito 33-26-11 vs. 7-10-6 Takaichi Hirayama

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
5. Asaki Honda 4-2-1 vs. 5-3-2 Hiroyuki Nozawa
4. Tomoyoshi Iwamiya 4-7-0 vs. 5-2-2 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto

3. Fly: Takuya Eizumi 2-1-0 vs. 1-2-0 Takayuki Hirayasu
2. Feather: Wataru Takahashi 6-10-3 vs. Hiroshi Tanaka

Pancrase Gate:
1. Light: Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - Tanaka Out!

Yasutomo Tanaka has had to pull out of his fight with Wataru Takahashi. He will be replaced by Hiroshi Tomida.

This will be an exciting debut. Hiroshi Tomita has had 4 Pancrase Gate fights and won 3 (2KO/1TKO). He will be facing experienced Laughter 7 fighter Wataru Takahashi. Takahashi had a bad 2007 (1-4), but he is a good fighter and this year he is 1-0-1 against good opponents. This should be a tough debut for Tomita.

Changed:
Wataru Takahashi 6-10-3 vs. Hiroshi Tomita

The complete card:
Featherweight King of Pancrase
Marlon Sandro 11-0-0 vs. 9-9-2 Masaya Takita "J-Taro"

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Asaki Honda 4-2-1 vs. 5-3-2 Hiroyuki Nozawa
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya 4-7-0 vs. 5-2-2 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto

Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 9-5-7 Tashiro Akai
Light: Takafumi Ito 33-26-11 vs. 7-10-6 Takaichi Hirayama
Welter: Takuya Wada 17-8-8 vs. 6-3-3 Masahiro Toryu
Feather: Wataru Takahashi 6-10-3 vs. Hiroshi Tanaka
Fly: Takuya Eizumi 2-1-0 vs. 1-2-0 Takayuki Hirayasu
Light: Yuichi Ikari 10-4-3 vs. 2-3-0 Yukio Sakaguchi

Pancrase Gate:
Light: Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - Another Fight Added

You cant blame Pancrase for not putting on enough fights, they are adding yet another one on their October 26 card.

This one is between Laughter 7's Wataru Takahashi and SK Absolute's Yasutomo Tanaka. Both of these guys are young (25) and very experienced, but have had someone mixed luck. It should be a good fight though.

The card looks pretty much complete now, with the exception of some Pancrase Gate fights.

Added:
Wataru Takahashi 6-10-3 vs. 5-2-4 Yasutomo Tanaka

The card:
Featherweight King of Pancrase
Marlon Sandro 11-0-0 vs. 9-9-2 Masaya Takita "J-Taro"

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Asaki Honda 4-2-1 vs. 5-3-2 Hiroyuki Nozawa
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya 4-7-0 vs. 5-2-2 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto

Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 9-5-7 Tashiro Akai
Light: Takafumi Ito 33-26-11 vs. 7-10-6 Takaichi Hirayama
Welter: Takuya Wada 17-8-8 vs. 6-3-3 Masahiro Toryu
Feather: Wataru Takahashi 6-10-3 vs. 5-2-4 Yasutomo Tanaka
Fly: Takuya Eizumi 2-1-0 vs. 1-2-0 Takayuki Hirayasu
Light: Yuichi Ikari 10-4-3 vs. 2-3-0 Yukio Sakaguchi

Pancrase Gate:
Light: Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - King of Pancrase Fight Added

Pancrase have added 2 more fights to this card, it is looking like another good card from Pancrase!

Added today is the featherweight King of Pancrase title fight between the #1 and 2 ranked Pancrase featherweights. This will most likely be the main event, and this be a good encounter between undefeated Marlon Sandro and the experienced "J-Taro".

Also added is a Pancrase gate fight.

Added:
Featherweight King of Pancrase:
Marlon Sandro 11-0-0 vs. 9-9-2 Masaya Takita "J-Taro"

Lightweight Pancrase Gate:
Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi

Card so far:
Featherweight King of Pancrase
Marlon Sandro 11-0-0 vs. 9-9-2 Masaya Takita "J-Taro"

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Asaki Honda 4-2-1 vs. 5-3-2 Hiroyuki Nozawa
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya 4-7-0 vs. 5-2-2 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto

Feather: Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 9-5-7 Tashiro Akai
Light: Takafumi Ito 33-26-11 vs. 7-10-6 Takaichi Hirayama
Welter: Takuya Wada 17-8-8 vs. 6-3-3 Masahiro Toryu
Fly: Takuya Eizumi 2-1-0 vs. 1-2-0 Takayuki Hirayasu
Light: Yuichi Ikari 10-4-3 vs. 2-3-0 Yukio Sakaguchi

Pancrase Gate:
Light: Wataru Yoshikawa vs. Shigetomo Takahashi

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10/26 Pancrase Shining Tour - Welterweight Tournament Announced

Pancrase have added a welterweight tournament to their event on October 26 in Differ Ariake. The goal is to fill the vacant King of Pancrase welterweight spot. The final is scheduled for the December 7 event also held in Differ Ariake. Intrim champion, Takayuki Wada is not in the tournament, the winner of the tournament will face him in the spring for the King of Pancrase title. In other words, the winner will earn the right to face Wada for the title.

Welterweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Asaki Honda 4-2-1 vs. 5-3-2 Hiroyuki Nozawa
Tomoyoshi Iwamiya 4-7-0 vs. 5-2-2 "Strasser" Kiichi Kunimoto

Previously announced:

Takuya Wada 17-8-8 vs. 6-3-3 Masahiro Toryu
Takuya Eizumi 2-1-0 vs. 1-2-0 Takayuki Hirayasu
Yuichi Ikari 10-4-3 vs. 2-3-0 Yukio Sakaguchi
Kenji Arai 13-12-2 vs. 9-5-7 Tashiro Akai (Name changed from Nishiuchi)
Takafumi Ito 33-26-11 vs. 7-10-6 Takaichi Hirayama

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