12/10 DEEP 39 - RESULTS

The big surprise of the night, Korean Chang Son Jon KO'd Fanjin Son. Son came out swinging, looked like he faked the handshake even. That started the slugfest that the Korean won. Son fell face first and the ref jumped in to save him.

Grudge match of the night was DJ Taiki (wearing his PIMPIT Fight Team shirt) against Naoya Uematsu. Uematsu looked like he had his chances on the ground, but DJ Taiki was able to sit up in his gruard. Strong body punches made Uematsu open up and DJ Taiki took a strong vicotry.

Otsuka vs. Shoji is probably one of the highest paced fights I have ever seen! Otsuka had the rear-naked choke in when the final round ended, but until then Shoji was escaping everything. A very good fight!

Obiya showed a bit of ring rust, and took some punches. In the end he showed that he has very poweful hands, and I am already looking forward to the next fight!!

11. 70.3kg: Nobuhiro Obiya Def. Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44" by TKO Round 2 2:35

10. 83.9kg: Yuya Shirai Def. Yuichi Nakanishi by Decision 3-0
9. 70.3kg: Takafumi Otsuka Def. Shoji Maruyama by Decision 3-0
8. 63.7: Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" Def. Naoya Uematsu by TKO Round 1 2:30
7. 70.3kg: Katsunori Kikuno Def. Jang Yong Kim by Decision 3-0
6. 65kg: Chang Son Jon Def. Fanjin Son by KO Round 1 0:17
5. 70.3kg: Seigo Inoue Def. Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno by Decision 3-0
4. Open: Shunsuke Inoue vs. Kazuhisa Tazawa DRAW

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
3. Yukiya Naito Def. Yuta Watanabe by TKO Round 1 1:25
2. Yusaki Tsukumo Def. Hidenobu Koike by TKO Round 1 5:00
1. Luiz Andrade Def. Shinobu Miura by Decision 2-0

Read more...

12/10 DEEP 39 - Weigh-in

The weigh-in for tomorrow's DEEP event in Korakuen hall was done today. No major issues, all fighters made weight.

This should he a very good event, that I wont get to go to... But as its showing just a few hours delayed on Samurai, I should see it tomorrow anyway.

The return of Obiya is something that excites me, and I am looking forward to more than a few fights on this card! There is a very strong rumor that there 3 70.3kg fights are part of a tournament... I have not seen it confirmed, so if someone has a link to this, I would apprecite it. I know I saw it somewhere, but now I cant find it and it doesnt look like its a tournament...

12. 70.3kg:
Nobuhiro Obiya 70.3kg
Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44" 70.1kg

11. 83.9kg:
Yuichi Nakanishi 83.7kg
Yuya Shirai 83.7kg

10. 70.3kg:
Shoji Maruyama 65.6kg
Takafumi Otsuka 65.7kg

9. 63:
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 63.7kg
Naoya Uematsu 63.2kg

8. 70.3kg:
Jang Yong Kim 70.2kg
Katsunori Kikuno 70.2kg

7. 65kg:
Fanjin Son 64.7kg
Chang Son Jon 65.0kg

6. 70.3kg:
Seigo Inoue 69.8kg
Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno 70.3kg

5. Open:
Shunsuke Inoue 105kg
Kazuhisa Tazawa 121kg

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
4. 83.9kg:
Yuta Watanabe　84.0kg→83.9kg
Yukiya Naito　82.8kg


3. 77.1kg:
Hidenobu Koike 76.5kg
Yusaki Tsukumo 76.7kg

2. 70.3kg:
Luiz Andrade I 71.0 → 70.3
Shinobu Miura 70.0

Future Fight:
1. Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

Read more...

12/10 DEEP 39 - Fight Order

DEEP have announced the fight order for their event next week. That means that the fights are final, and there are 12 fights on the card.

The main-event will see the returning Nobuhiro Obiya facing DEEP veteran Barbaro 44. Obiya is returning after 2 years off and there will be lots of fans excited to see him back. If he is event close to the shape he was, Barbaro 44 should not pose any problems but ring-rust can strike the best of them.

There has been a late change, Eiji Ishikawa has pulled out due to injury and is replaced by another Grabaka fighter, Hidenobu Koike.

For me, this is not as strong as the previous DEEP card, but DEEP 38 was a very good event. On this card, I am most excited about Murayama vs. Ostuka and "DJ Taiki" vs. Uematsu.

Main-Event:
12. 70.3kg: Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"

11. 83.9kg: Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
10. 70.3kg: Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
9. 63.7: Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu
8. 70.3kg: Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno
7. 65kg: Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon
6. 70.3kg: Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
5. Open: Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Hidenobu Koike 5-8-3 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

Read more...

12/10 DEEP 39 - Changes (Injury and Addition) **Updated**

Update/correction: I had missed a couple of fights on the card, they are updated now, and the full card that is announced so far is available at the bottom.


The DEEP Impact 39 card has suffered a loss, Jutaro Nakao had to pull out due to injury. Taking his place is Korean Jang Yong Kim, that's right, the guy that upset "K-Taro" in Cage Force earlier this month. That means that Katsunori Kikuno goes from facing one of the most experienced fighters in the game, to facing a new talent. Will be interesting to see if Kim can follow up his win in Cage Force.

Also added to the card is Fanjin Son. Son lost his last fight in the Cage Force tournament to "Wicky" Akiyo, he is a Shooto veteran that has had his last 3 fights in Cage Force. Now he is makeing a move to DEEP. He will be taking on another Korean, Chang Son Jon.

That means that all the 3 additions to this DEEP card will be making their DEEP debuts.

Changed:
Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno

Added:
Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon

Announced:
Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"
Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu
Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa
Fanjin Son 5-3-0 vs. 1-0-0 Chang Son Jon
Jang Yong Kim 2-2-0 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Eiji Ishikawa 17-15-2 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

Read more...

12/10 DEEP 39 - Fights Added

Shoji Maruyama, the former Lightweight King of Pancrase will be fighting AACC's Takafumi Otsuka in what should be a very interesting fight. Shoji had a busy first half of 2008, with 3 fights in 5 months. He won the Pancrase Lightweight title agaist Artur Oumakhanov with a kick to the head. He then decided to vacate the title to move down a weight class. His last fight was in DREAM 3, a decision loss to Yamazaki.

Shoji will be facing Takafumi Otsuka who is a very tough fighter. He is the sort of fighter that never gives up and this should be a good fight between 2 talented fighters.

Also added is the Heavyweight fight between Inoue and Tazawa.

It is shaping up to be a good card again for DEEP. The event is being held in Korakuen Hall.

Added:
Shoji Maruyama 6-3-1 vs. 7-3-1 Takafumi Otsuka
Shunsuke Inoue 4-3-0 vs. 3-0-0 Kazuhisa Tazawa

Future Fights:
Yasuhiro Sakahara vs. Satoru Inaba

Previously announced:
Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"
Jutaro Nakao 22-13-4 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno
Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno
Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Eiji Ishikawa 17-15-2 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Read more...

12/10 DEEP 39 - Lightweight Tournament Announced!

Earlier this year DEEP stripped Hwan Sung Bang of the Lightweight Title. Of course this is a spot they need to fill. With Obiya coming back, they have a posible champion, but what is better than a tournament??

There will be 8 fighters fighting for this title, 3 fights are announced today.
The fighters in this tournament will be Nobuhiro Obiya, Yoshihiro Tomioka, Jutaro Nakao, Katsunori Kikuno, Seigo Inoue, Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno, Daisuke Nakamura and Koichiro Matsumoto.

Here are the fights announced today:
Nobuhiro Obiya 9-3-1 vs. 12-6-4 Yoshihiro Tomioka "Barbaro44"
Jutaro Nakao 22-13-4 vs. 8-1-1 Katsunori Kikuno
Seigo Inoue 4-4-1 vs. 6-4-2 Toshikazu "ISE" Iseno

Previously announced:
Yuichi Nakanishi 9-7-3 vs. 13-7-0 Yuya Shirai
Daiki Hata "DJ Taiki" 8-5-3 vs. 15-7-2 Naoya Uematsu

DEEP vs. Wajyutsu Keisyukai
Eiji Ishikawa 17-15-2 vs. 4-3-0 Yusaki Tsukumo
Yuta Watanabe 8-2-3 vs. 14-4-2 Yukiya Naito
Luiz Andrade I 7-6-3 vs. 2-3-3 Shinobu Miura

Read more...

8/24 Sengoku 4 Betting Odds

Bookmaker.com have announced the odds for tomorrow's Sengoku event. No surprise that Gomi is favorite in his fight, but I actually think Pang is underrated. Will be interesting to see.

http://www.bookmaker.com/sportsbook.aspx

I will get a live Play-by-Play going, so check in tomorrow for the results, if you're not able to watch the event.

Sung Hwan Pang +600
Takanori Gomi -1100

Frank Trigg -430
Makoto Takimoto +350

Clay French -105
Satoru Kitaoka -125

Eiji Mitsuoka +175
Rodrigo Damm -215

Bojan Kosednar +115
Kazunori Yokota -145

Mizuto Hirota +255
Ryan Schultz -315

Read more...

8/24 Sengoku - Fight Order

Sengoku have announced the fight order for Sunday's event, I have been sick for a couple of days and it is of course when they decided to publish this.

It should be a very good card and an interesting event. I will most likely do a play-by-play live on Sunday, so check then and you will know.

Main-event (Non-GP):
9. LW: Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang
8. MW: Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg

Lightweight GP:
7. Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
6. Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
5. Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
4. Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Non-GP Fights:
3. HW: Pavel Nastula 1-3-0 vs. 2-0-0 Yang Dong Yi
2. HW: Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
1. HW: Kazuo Takahashi 28-23-3 vs. 25-22-0 Valentijn Overeem

If you're not familiar with the Japanese fighters, I have posted a couple of video's over the last few weeks:

Hwan Sung Pang and Hirota Mizuto
Satoru Kitaoka

Nightmare of Battle have also introduced Hirota Mizuto

Read more...

8/24 Sengoku - Card Complete?

With everything happeneing yesterday, I missed an additional fight being added to Sengoku's August 24. card. This fight sees Valentijn Overeem return to Japan to face Kazuo Takahashi. I have a feeling that completes the card, with 9 fights. There are some good fighters in there, but will it draw the crowds?

Added:
Kazuo Takahashi 28-23-3 vs. 25-22-0 Valentijn Overeem

Previously announced:
Main-event:
Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang

Lightweight GP:
Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Non-GP Fights:
Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg
Pavel Natula 1-3-0 vs. 2-0-0 Yang Dong Yi
Kazuo Takahashi 28-23-3 vs. 25-22-0 Valentijn Overeem

Read more...

More Sengoku Participant Videos...

I have sort of started to post videos of the fighters participating in the upcoming Sengoku event, and why stop now.

A few of these Japanese fighters would be relative unknown to overseas fans, so I am trying to educate and entertain.

The first video includes 2 fighters that are participating. This fight took place May 19 and is for the DEEP Light-Weight championship belt. Hwan Sung Pang is taking on champion Kazunori Yokota.


Pang Sung Hwan vs Kazunori Yokota Deep 35
Uploaded by anjelon

The second video is from Cage Force in February, Hirota Mizuto is taking on Frenchman Johnny Frachey.

Read more...

8/24 Sengoku - Pawel Natsula's Opponent announced

Sengoku have announced the opponent for Pawel Nastula's fight on August 24. The opponent is Korean Yang Dong Yi. Accourding to N.O.B he is a wrestler, his current MMA record is 2-0-0. Both his previous fights were in DEEP and this is a big step up in opponent. Nastula has not fought for nearly 2 years, Yang Dong Yi is coming off a 1 year break.

Announced:
Pavel Natula 1-3-0 vs. 2-0-0 Yang Dong Yi

Previously announced:
Main-event:
Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang

Lightweight GP:
Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Non-GP Fights:
Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg

Read more...

8/24 Sengoku - Pawel Natsula is Back!

Pawel Natsula has been gone from the MMA Scene since Pride went away, now he has resurfaced in Japan and will fight in Sengoku on August 24! His opponent is yet to be determined.

The main-event is also announced, no surprise there, Gomi will fight in that.

Participating:
Pavel Natula 1-3-0

Main-event:
Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang

Lightweight GP:
Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Non-GP Fights:
Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg

http://gbring.com/sokuho/news/2008_08/0801_sengoku.htm

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8/24 Sengoku 4 - Gomi's Opponent Announced

It has been rumored for a while, but today it was confirmed that Hwan Sung Pang is Gomi's opponent for the next Sengoku event! He is no can and this should be interesting.

I am surprised that Pang is not in the tournament though...

This looks like a very strong card, and should be the best Sengoku event to date. Personally I like watching Kitaoka (when he's on) and French should be an interesting opponent for him.

Anyway, fights announced today:

Lightweight (non-GP)
Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang

Lightweight GP
Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Previously announced:
Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg

Read more...

8/16 DEEP: Gladiators - Okayama

DEEP has announced a new event called GLADIATOR, what looks like it will be the main event will feature non other than Don Frye 19-6-1, fighting Ikuhisa Minowa 39-28-8.

Also fighting will be Daijiro Matsui 10-19-4 and Hwang Sung Pang 5-1-0.

The event is will be held in Okayama, in Momotarou Arena.

Ikuhisa Minowa 39-28-8 vs. 19-6-1 Don Frye
Daijiro Matsui 10-19-4 vs. Eun Soo Lee
Hwang Sung Pang 5-1-0 vs. 5-4-1 Akihiko Mouri (record fromBoutreview.com)

K-1 Rule:
Gary Goodridge vs. Hiromi Amada


DEEP is also doing an event with M-1 soon, I will get back with the details of that later.

Read more...

5/19 DEEP 35 - Fights added

DEEP has added another couple of fights to their DEEP 35 card. It is looking like a very good card, and I expect more good cards from DEEP throughout 2008. I have feeling their close relationship with DREAM will result in some interesting fighters stoping by.

Anyway, the DEEP 35 card (BTW, I think "The Nob-Rock" has to be one of the funnies nicknames I have come across):

DEEP Featherweight title fight:
Masakazu Imanari 14-5-1 vs. 17-6-2 Dokonjonosuke Mishima

DEEP Lightweight title fight:
Kazunori Yokota 6-0-3 vs. 2-1-0 Pang Sung Hwan

Middleweight Tournament Participants:
Yuya Shirai 12-5-0
Daijiro Matsui 10-18-4
Yuichi Nakanishi 7-7-3
Riki Fukuda 9-3-0

Middleweight Tournament Reserve Fight:
Ryuta Sakurai 15-14-4 vs. 9-4-0 Young “RYO” Choi

Non-Tournament/Title fights:
Hidehiko Hasegawa 14-9-4 vs. 11-13-7 Hiroki Nagaoka
Koichiro Matsumoto 3-1-0 vs. 6-1-3 Yuki Ito
Katsunori Kikuno 6-1-1 vs. 3-2-1 Seigo Inoue
Jutaro Nakao 20-13-4 vs. 7-9-3 Shigetoshi Iwase
LUIZ 6-6-2 vs. 5-3-2 Toshikazu Iseno “ISE”
Noboru Onishi “The Nob-Rock” 1-1-1 vs. イムヒョンギュ（ＣＭＡ　ＫＴＴ）

Future fight:
Muneyuki Sato 1-1-0 vs. Yasuhiro Kawasaki

Read more...

5/19 DEEP 35 - Fights added

DEEP has revealed more fights for their DEEP 35 card. On it, 2 title fights and 4 title holders! This will be an exciting event and I am not happy that I will not be in Japan at that time!

DEEP Featherweight title fight:
Masakazu Imanari 14-5-1 vs. 17-6-2 Dokonjonosuke Mishima

DEEP Lightweight title fight:
Kazunori Yokota 6-0-3 vs. 2-1-0 Pang Sung Hwan

Middleweight Tournament:
Yuya Shirai 12-5-0
Daijiro Matsui 10-18-4
Yuichi Nakanishi 7-7-3
Riki Fukuda 9-3-0

Middleweight Tournament Reserve Fight:
Ryuta Sakurai 15-14-4 vs. 9-4-0 Young “RYO” Choi

Hidehiko Hasegawa 14-9-4 vs. 11-13-7 Hiroki Nagaoka
Koichiro Matsumoto 3-1-0 vs. 6-1-3 Yuki Ito
Katsunori Kikuno 6-1-1 vs. 3-2-1 Seigo Inoue

Participating:
Jutaro Nakao 20-13-4
Seichi Ikemoto 16-14-5
Satoko Shinashi 28-1-2

Read more...

5/19 DEEP 35

DEEP has announced their first fight for the DEEP 35 card, of course the middle weight semi-finals will be on this card. There will in addition to that be no less than 3 DEEP champions in action.

Here is what is announced so far:

DEEP Featherweight title fight:
Masakazu Imanari 14-5-1 vs. 17-6-2 Dokonjonosuke Mishima

DEEP Lightweight title fight:
Kazunori Yokota 6-0-3 vs. 2-1-0 Pang Sung Hwan

Middleweight Tournament:
Yuya Shirai 12-5-0
Daijiro Matsui 10-18-4
Yuichi Nakanishi 7-7-3
Riki Fukuda 9-3-0

Participating:
Hidehiko Hasegawa 14-9-4 (DEEP Welterweight champion)

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/headlines/etc/20080329-00000026-spnavi-fight.html

Read more...