Koubousen Companion: News and Notes from Japan
News and Notes
Jordan Breen Mar 23, 2007
Coming off of a weekend bursting with action in the heart of Tokyo,
it is only natural to have a full notebook of newsworthiness. There
is not necessarily a cute or snappy way to introduce this week's
news. Quite simply, we're now in the thick of things in 2007, and
even if you're pensive about PRIDE changing postal codes, the
Japanese fight scene is still keeping the spot hot.
A farewell will soon be in order for longtime veteran Hiromitsu Kanehara (Pictures). After nearly a decade in the ring, Kanehara has revealed that his next match will be his final one. Meanwhile, Japan's preeminent MMA magazine Gong Kakutougi has said its goodbyes, after being hit hard by the business scandal of Nippon Sports Publishing. However, the end for Gong is the beginning for Fight & Life, which is looking to pick up where Gong left off in kakutougi coverage.
Fan favorite Genki Sudo
(Pictures) gave his farewell this past
New Year's Eve, hoping to focus on his pro-peace endeavors.
However, we haven't yet seen all that Sudo had to offer in the
ring. How so? Two top-secret, never before seen Sudo square-offs
will soon see the light of day.
However, Sudo's compatriot Takanori Gomi (Pictures) isn't going anywhere, despite his devastating loss to Nick Diaz (Pictures) last month. In fact, Gomi has gotten back to his roots, honing his grappling abroad, before returning back to Japan to take part in the Combat Wrestling national championships, where he's reigned supreme in years past. Did "The Fireball Kid" light up the mats? And what other MMA competitors were in contention for Combat Wrestling titles this past week?
It's already been a busy month for Shooto, and more is on the horizon this weekend. ALIVE is serving up the twelfth installment of GIG CENTRAL in Nagoya, and as per usual for central Japan's Shooto fixture, a crackling card is in order. Rookie tournament bouts, local favorites and fast rising prospects are all in order, in addition to a 123-pound main event clash, crucial in the climbing climate of Shooto's bantamweight class.
Finally, DEEP's corpulent commander Shigeru Saeki put on a sensational card last month that packed Korakuen Hall from wall to wall. But there is a cost extracted when your new champions give everything they've got in the ring. With the injury bug biting hard, Saeki has utilized the resourcefulness that made him a much-respected role-player in Japanese fightsport, putting together a quality card which may hold strong casual crossover appeal for DEEP's April adventure.
Next bout will be curtain call for Kanehara
As many have already heard, Japanese veteran Hiromitsu Kanehara (Pictures) will be calling it a career soon, after nearly a decade in the ring. Following his knockout loss to rising Pancrase prospect Ryo Kawamura (Pictures) this past weekend at Korakuen Hall, Kanehara announced that he would have one final fight in the Pancrase ring, and would then retire, bringing an end to a career which has spanned nearly a decade.
The 36-year-old Kanehara made his mixed martial arts debut in 1998, when longtime shoot-style pro-wrestling organization RINGS moved towards legitimate mixed martial arts bouts. In recent years, Kanehara has become better known to fans as cannon fodder for superstars like Wanderlei Silva (Pictures), Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) and Mauricio Rua (Pictures), or perhaps simply losing in general, having lost a staggering 10 of his last 11 pro bouts. However, Kanehara was one of RINGS' Japanese stalwarts alongside Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (Pictures) and Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures), having picked up wins over Jeremy Horn (Pictures), Dave Menne (Pictures) and Valentijn Overeem (Pictures) back in the days of King of Kings.
No date has yet been named for Kanehara's final fight. However, Pancrase executives have said that they want to hold another super-card in the summer, much as they did this past August in Yokohama with four title fights on the card. This year, it is their hope to make a super-card even bigger, and the early idea proposed by Pancrase was that they would utilize a 10,000-plus-seat venue, with booking help from bodogFIGHT. If they do go through with this super-card, Kanehara's retirement bout may be scheduled for the bill this summer.
The final gong for GONG gives life to Fight & Life
After a few weeks of speculation as to the status of Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd., and more specifically, Gong Kakutougi — the monthly magazine which has served as the gold standard of fightsport print media in Japan — it is now official that on the heels of the publishing of their April issue, GONG Kakutougi will now be put on an indefinite hiatus.
Late last month, Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. president Daisuke Maeda was arrested after being implicated in the crimes of yakuza gang leader Yoshio Shimomura, which violated Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law. Shimomura, who is currently under arrest for fraud, is a former Kodo-kai gang leader, a branch of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate. In recent years, Shimomura has become more noted for his business endeavors, as he's been involved in the buying and selling of multiple companies.
Maeda, a respected business manager who holds a multitude of high ranking corporate posts, played a role in the latest of Shimomura's criminal exploits, serving as the President and CEO of Advanced Technology and Systems Co., Ltd, or ADTX, a company specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of computer peripherals. Shimomura then purchased a controlling stake in Yubitoma from the ADTX president, before trying to sell the firm to the computer service company in late October.
Shimomura is now under investigation for allegedly concealing the assets of ADTX, which was declared bankrupt by a Tokyo court this past January. Metropolitan Police Department investigators have expressed concern that the concealed assets, as well as any monetary gains made from Shimomura's other buy-and-sell deals with firms may have been channeled into the criminal world.
Following an emergency executive meeting, Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. offered a public apology, in which they announced with little surprise that Daisaku Maeda was dismissed from his position. While Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. was investigated due to its association with Maeda, there were no instances of criminal activity found regarding the company. However, the scandal has been too much to shake for the company, which has now suspended the publication of their popular titles, including Gong Kakutougi.
Reports indicate that it is the hope of the former Gong Kakutougi staff to reassemble under a new publisher in the spring. However, they may already have been beaten to the punch by upstart periodical Fight & Life. The first edition of Fight & Life, which appears to be associated by preeminent Japanese MMA site God Bless The Ring, as well as Japanese bodybuilding magazine Ironman, is scheduled for April 21.
Early glimpses of the premiere issue's content would seem to indicate that the bimonthly magazine is seeking to fill the void left by GONG Kakutougi, by combining both an intimate coverage of international MMA, coupled with the editorials and technical training features which were a popular staple of GONG.
Two top secret Sudo square-offs set for DVD release
This past New Year's Eve, fight fans said their farewells to charismatic superstar Genki Sudo (Pictures). Accumulated injuries, including a nagging herniated disc in his neck and inspirational message at a urinal ("One Step Forward") were the impetus for "The Neo-Samurai" to call it a career following his submission win over Damacio Page (Pictures) at K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!! However, there is a bit of Sudo even his most ardent fans have yet to see.
A soon to be released DVD, tentatively titled simply "Genki Sudo (Pictures)," will provide a stylized look at the career of the former Japanese superstar. The DVD will feature a full digest of Sudo's fight history, alongside Sudo's commentary on his own career. The DVD will also be influenced by the creative sensibilities of Sudo, featuring unique artwork and music by Sudo himself. As well, Sudo's famed run at the 2001 Westside Submission Tournament will also to be part of the release.
However, these are not the most significant inclusions of the DVD, which is scheduled to go on sale June 6. It will also reportedly feature two never before seen secret matches of Sudo's. The two bouts are said to have taken place in secrecy at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, likely at HERO'S events, long before any fans had shown up. So far, there has been no indication as to the content of the matches in terms of whether or not they are MMA contests, grappling bouts, or simply glorified sparring sessions, but one of Sudo's opponents has been confirmed as being fellow Japanese superstar Caol Uno (Pictures), while the other opponent has remained undisclosed.
Gomi, Akimoto and Takeuchi conquer combat wrestling nationals again
Since his crushing loss to Nick Diaz (Pictures) last month, PRIDE lightweight titlist Takanori Gomi (Pictures) has been getting back into the swing of things by getting back to the basics. After an arguably symbolic head shaving, Gomi traveled to South Korea, where he worked on his wrestling and grappling with the Korean Top Team. Gomi returned to Japan to compete in the 13th Annual All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship earlier this week.
The Combat Wrestling nationals are nothing new to Gomi. A protégé of Combat Wrestling founder Noriaki Kiguchi, Gomi has had strong success in the event in the past, taking first place finishes three years in a row, winning the 152-pound division in 2001, and the 163-pound class in both 2002 and 2003.
In his return to the Combat Wrestling nationals, Gomi was sensational. Not only did he capture the 161-pound division title, he was elected to compete in the MVP match-up, pitting the day's two most outstanding competitors against one another, against Rodeo Style's Yuki Baba, the winner of the 148-pound division. Gomi came out on top, submitting Baba with an armbar just under three minutes into the first period.
Gomi was not the only notable MMA competitor in action at the Combat Wrestling nationals, either. Longtime Shooto veteran Jin Akimoto (Pictures), who had previously taken All Japan titles at 128 pounds in 1997, and 137 pounds in 2005, returned to the nationals to take another first place finish in the 128 pound division. Meanwhile, Izuru Takeuchi (Pictures) took his fifth championship at the Combat Wrestling nationals, and third in a row in the 176-pound and over division.
As an aside, multiple Combat Wrestling titles are not all Gomi, Akimoto and Takeuchi all have in common. In fact, they were once all teammates at SHOOTO GYM K'z FACTORY years ago.
Pancrase primed for 13th annual Neo-Bloods
In terms of prospect tournaments, Shooto's rookie brackets have become more en vogue recently, as a steady stream of Shooto world champions such as Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures), Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures) and "BJ" Shinichi Kojima (Pictures) have emerged from their rookie tournament contests, in addition to countless other stars. However, it is important to remember that the originators of the up-and-comer tournament aren't the Shootors, but the hybrid wrestlers.
Looking to follow in the steps of former tournament champions such as Evan Tanner (Pictures), Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures), the preliminary rounds of the 13th Annual Pancrase Neo-Blood Tournaments will take place at Shinkiba 1st RING in Tokyo this Sunday. Unlike the sprawling Shooto rookie tournament series, which takes place over dozens of events throughout the course of the calendar year, Pancrase's Neo Blood series is compact and neatly contained within a small series of events. The 21-bout primaries card will crystallize the semifinal match-ups for May 6's card at Gold Gym South Tokyo Annex.
The 21 bouts will feature an altered set of in-ring rules, somewhere between Pancrase's amateur Pancrase Gate rules and their full professional rules. The bouts will be one round, five minute affairs, with a possible three-minute extension round if the fight is judged a draw through the first five minutes. Unlike the amateur rules, heel hooks are permitted, and shin guards and kneepads are optional rather than mandatory.
As mentioned, this event will set up the semifinal match ups for the tournaments to take place on May 6. In 141-pound action, Michihisa Asano (Pictures) and Tomoichi Miyagi will square off to determine the first semifinalist, while the winner's opponent will be determined when Tomoki Murayama takes on Punch Yamauchi. The other featherweight semifinal bout for May 6 will be determined, as the winner of Koji Yoshimoto (Pictures) and Yasutomo Tanaka will take on the winner of Takashi Hasegawa and Yuki Yamasawa.
In lightweight tournament action, the A Block lightweight primary winner will advance to the May 6 card to take on the winner of Jinzaburo Yonezawa and Yuichi Ikari. The winner of the B block lightweight primary will advance to the other semifinal bout, where they will take on the winner of the match-up between Yuji Arakawa and Taku Aramaki (Pictures).
In the first welterweight semifinal, the 165-pound primary winner will advance to the May 6 card to meet Yuki Yashima. The second semifinal will pit Toshikatsu Harada, better known as simply TOSHI, against Nao Yoshida (Pictures), who himself is campaigning under an alias, as Yoshirock-T.
Similar in structure to the welterweight tournament, the middleweight Neo Blood bracket will see March 25's 181-pound primary winner advance to the May 6 card to face Rikuhei Fujii (Pictures) in the first semifinal. In the other semifinal bout, Masahiro Toryu (Pictures) will meet Tomoyoshi Iwamiya (Pictures).
All semifinal winners at the May 6 card will then advance to the finals of the Neo Blood Tournaments, which will take place on July 27's RISING TOUR 2007 stop at Korakuen Hall, tentatively scheduled to be headlined by welterweight King of Pancrase champion Daizo Ishige (Pictures)'s first title defense against Carlos Condit (Pictures).
A farewell will soon be in order for longtime veteran Hiromitsu Kanehara (Pictures). After nearly a decade in the ring, Kanehara has revealed that his next match will be his final one. Meanwhile, Japan's preeminent MMA magazine Gong Kakutougi has said its goodbyes, after being hit hard by the business scandal of Nippon Sports Publishing. However, the end for Gong is the beginning for Fight & Life, which is looking to pick up where Gong left off in kakutougi coverage.
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However, Sudo's compatriot Takanori Gomi (Pictures) isn't going anywhere, despite his devastating loss to Nick Diaz (Pictures) last month. In fact, Gomi has gotten back to his roots, honing his grappling abroad, before returning back to Japan to take part in the Combat Wrestling national championships, where he's reigned supreme in years past. Did "The Fireball Kid" light up the mats? And what other MMA competitors were in contention for Combat Wrestling titles this past week?
Much is made in this very column about the greatness of the Shooto
rookie tournament series. However, it's important to recognize that
they are not the originators. Pancrase's 13th Annual Neo Blood
Tournaments will really get rolling this weekend; will we get to
see another Ikuhisa
Minowa (Pictures), Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) or Evan Tanner (Pictures)? Also, let us not forgot that the
girls can get down too: Smackgirl has set up the schedule for the
remainder of this year's Next Cinderella tournaments, as top female
prospects strive to wear this year's glass slipper.
It's already been a busy month for Shooto, and more is on the horizon this weekend. ALIVE is serving up the twelfth installment of GIG CENTRAL in Nagoya, and as per usual for central Japan's Shooto fixture, a crackling card is in order. Rookie tournament bouts, local favorites and fast rising prospects are all in order, in addition to a 123-pound main event clash, crucial in the climbing climate of Shooto's bantamweight class.
Finally, DEEP's corpulent commander Shigeru Saeki put on a sensational card last month that packed Korakuen Hall from wall to wall. But there is a cost extracted when your new champions give everything they've got in the ring. With the injury bug biting hard, Saeki has utilized the resourcefulness that made him a much-respected role-player in Japanese fightsport, putting together a quality card which may hold strong casual crossover appeal for DEEP's April adventure.
Next bout will be curtain call for Kanehara
As many have already heard, Japanese veteran Hiromitsu Kanehara (Pictures) will be calling it a career soon, after nearly a decade in the ring. Following his knockout loss to rising Pancrase prospect Ryo Kawamura (Pictures) this past weekend at Korakuen Hall, Kanehara announced that he would have one final fight in the Pancrase ring, and would then retire, bringing an end to a career which has spanned nearly a decade.
The 36-year-old Kanehara made his mixed martial arts debut in 1998, when longtime shoot-style pro-wrestling organization RINGS moved towards legitimate mixed martial arts bouts. In recent years, Kanehara has become better known to fans as cannon fodder for superstars like Wanderlei Silva (Pictures), Mirko Filipovic (Pictures) and Mauricio Rua (Pictures), or perhaps simply losing in general, having lost a staggering 10 of his last 11 pro bouts. However, Kanehara was one of RINGS' Japanese stalwarts alongside Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (Pictures) and Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures), having picked up wins over Jeremy Horn (Pictures), Dave Menne (Pictures) and Valentijn Overeem (Pictures) back in the days of King of Kings.
No date has yet been named for Kanehara's final fight. However, Pancrase executives have said that they want to hold another super-card in the summer, much as they did this past August in Yokohama with four title fights on the card. This year, it is their hope to make a super-card even bigger, and the early idea proposed by Pancrase was that they would utilize a 10,000-plus-seat venue, with booking help from bodogFIGHT. If they do go through with this super-card, Kanehara's retirement bout may be scheduled for the bill this summer.
The final gong for GONG gives life to Fight & Life
After a few weeks of speculation as to the status of Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd., and more specifically, Gong Kakutougi — the monthly magazine which has served as the gold standard of fightsport print media in Japan — it is now official that on the heels of the publishing of their April issue, GONG Kakutougi will now be put on an indefinite hiatus.
Late last month, Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. president Daisuke Maeda was arrested after being implicated in the crimes of yakuza gang leader Yoshio Shimomura, which violated Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law. Shimomura, who is currently under arrest for fraud, is a former Kodo-kai gang leader, a branch of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate. In recent years, Shimomura has become more noted for his business endeavors, as he's been involved in the buying and selling of multiple companies.
Maeda, a respected business manager who holds a multitude of high ranking corporate posts, played a role in the latest of Shimomura's criminal exploits, serving as the President and CEO of Advanced Technology and Systems Co., Ltd, or ADTX, a company specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of computer peripherals. Shimomura then purchased a controlling stake in Yubitoma from the ADTX president, before trying to sell the firm to the computer service company in late October.
Shimomura is now under investigation for allegedly concealing the assets of ADTX, which was declared bankrupt by a Tokyo court this past January. Metropolitan Police Department investigators have expressed concern that the concealed assets, as well as any monetary gains made from Shimomura's other buy-and-sell deals with firms may have been channeled into the criminal world.
Following an emergency executive meeting, Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. offered a public apology, in which they announced with little surprise that Daisaku Maeda was dismissed from his position. While Nippon Sports Publishing Co., Ltd. was investigated due to its association with Maeda, there were no instances of criminal activity found regarding the company. However, the scandal has been too much to shake for the company, which has now suspended the publication of their popular titles, including Gong Kakutougi.
Reports indicate that it is the hope of the former Gong Kakutougi staff to reassemble under a new publisher in the spring. However, they may already have been beaten to the punch by upstart periodical Fight & Life. The first edition of Fight & Life, which appears to be associated by preeminent Japanese MMA site God Bless The Ring, as well as Japanese bodybuilding magazine Ironman, is scheduled for April 21.
Early glimpses of the premiere issue's content would seem to indicate that the bimonthly magazine is seeking to fill the void left by GONG Kakutougi, by combining both an intimate coverage of international MMA, coupled with the editorials and technical training features which were a popular staple of GONG.
Two top secret Sudo square-offs set for DVD release
This past New Year's Eve, fight fans said their farewells to charismatic superstar Genki Sudo (Pictures). Accumulated injuries, including a nagging herniated disc in his neck and inspirational message at a urinal ("One Step Forward") were the impetus for "The Neo-Samurai" to call it a career following his submission win over Damacio Page (Pictures) at K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!! However, there is a bit of Sudo even his most ardent fans have yet to see.
A soon to be released DVD, tentatively titled simply "Genki Sudo (Pictures)," will provide a stylized look at the career of the former Japanese superstar. The DVD will feature a full digest of Sudo's fight history, alongside Sudo's commentary on his own career. The DVD will also be influenced by the creative sensibilities of Sudo, featuring unique artwork and music by Sudo himself. As well, Sudo's famed run at the 2001 Westside Submission Tournament will also to be part of the release.
However, these are not the most significant inclusions of the DVD, which is scheduled to go on sale June 6. It will also reportedly feature two never before seen secret matches of Sudo's. The two bouts are said to have taken place in secrecy at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, likely at HERO'S events, long before any fans had shown up. So far, there has been no indication as to the content of the matches in terms of whether or not they are MMA contests, grappling bouts, or simply glorified sparring sessions, but one of Sudo's opponents has been confirmed as being fellow Japanese superstar Caol Uno (Pictures), while the other opponent has remained undisclosed.
Gomi, Akimoto and Takeuchi conquer combat wrestling nationals again
Since his crushing loss to Nick Diaz (Pictures) last month, PRIDE lightweight titlist Takanori Gomi (Pictures) has been getting back into the swing of things by getting back to the basics. After an arguably symbolic head shaving, Gomi traveled to South Korea, where he worked on his wrestling and grappling with the Korean Top Team. Gomi returned to Japan to compete in the 13th Annual All Japan Combat Wrestling Championship earlier this week.
The Combat Wrestling nationals are nothing new to Gomi. A protégé of Combat Wrestling founder Noriaki Kiguchi, Gomi has had strong success in the event in the past, taking first place finishes three years in a row, winning the 152-pound division in 2001, and the 163-pound class in both 2002 and 2003.
In his return to the Combat Wrestling nationals, Gomi was sensational. Not only did he capture the 161-pound division title, he was elected to compete in the MVP match-up, pitting the day's two most outstanding competitors against one another, against Rodeo Style's Yuki Baba, the winner of the 148-pound division. Gomi came out on top, submitting Baba with an armbar just under three minutes into the first period.
Gomi was not the only notable MMA competitor in action at the Combat Wrestling nationals, either. Longtime Shooto veteran Jin Akimoto (Pictures), who had previously taken All Japan titles at 128 pounds in 1997, and 137 pounds in 2005, returned to the nationals to take another first place finish in the 128 pound division. Meanwhile, Izuru Takeuchi (Pictures) took his fifth championship at the Combat Wrestling nationals, and third in a row in the 176-pound and over division.
As an aside, multiple Combat Wrestling titles are not all Gomi, Akimoto and Takeuchi all have in common. In fact, they were once all teammates at SHOOTO GYM K'z FACTORY years ago.
Pancrase primed for 13th annual Neo-Bloods
In terms of prospect tournaments, Shooto's rookie brackets have become more en vogue recently, as a steady stream of Shooto world champions such as Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures), Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures) and "BJ" Shinichi Kojima (Pictures) have emerged from their rookie tournament contests, in addition to countless other stars. However, it is important to remember that the originators of the up-and-comer tournament aren't the Shootors, but the hybrid wrestlers.
Looking to follow in the steps of former tournament champions such as Evan Tanner (Pictures), Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) and Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures), the preliminary rounds of the 13th Annual Pancrase Neo-Blood Tournaments will take place at Shinkiba 1st RING in Tokyo this Sunday. Unlike the sprawling Shooto rookie tournament series, which takes place over dozens of events throughout the course of the calendar year, Pancrase's Neo Blood series is compact and neatly contained within a small series of events. The 21-bout primaries card will crystallize the semifinal match-ups for May 6's card at Gold Gym South Tokyo Annex.
The 21 bouts will feature an altered set of in-ring rules, somewhere between Pancrase's amateur Pancrase Gate rules and their full professional rules. The bouts will be one round, five minute affairs, with a possible three-minute extension round if the fight is judged a draw through the first five minutes. Unlike the amateur rules, heel hooks are permitted, and shin guards and kneepads are optional rather than mandatory.
As mentioned, this event will set up the semifinal match ups for the tournaments to take place on May 6. In 141-pound action, Michihisa Asano (Pictures) and Tomoichi Miyagi will square off to determine the first semifinalist, while the winner's opponent will be determined when Tomoki Murayama takes on Punch Yamauchi. The other featherweight semifinal bout for May 6 will be determined, as the winner of Koji Yoshimoto (Pictures) and Yasutomo Tanaka will take on the winner of Takashi Hasegawa and Yuki Yamasawa.
In lightweight tournament action, the A Block lightweight primary winner will advance to the May 6 card to take on the winner of Jinzaburo Yonezawa and Yuichi Ikari. The winner of the B block lightweight primary will advance to the other semifinal bout, where they will take on the winner of the match-up between Yuji Arakawa and Taku Aramaki (Pictures).
In the first welterweight semifinal, the 165-pound primary winner will advance to the May 6 card to meet Yuki Yashima. The second semifinal will pit Toshikatsu Harada, better known as simply TOSHI, against Nao Yoshida (Pictures), who himself is campaigning under an alias, as Yoshirock-T.
Similar in structure to the welterweight tournament, the middleweight Neo Blood bracket will see March 25's 181-pound primary winner advance to the May 6 card to face Rikuhei Fujii (Pictures) in the first semifinal. In the other semifinal bout, Masahiro Toryu (Pictures) will meet Tomoyoshi Iwamiya (Pictures).
All semifinal winners at the May 6 card will then advance to the finals of the Neo Blood Tournaments, which will take place on July 27's RISING TOUR 2007 stop at Korakuen Hall, tentatively scheduled to be headlined by welterweight King of Pancrase champion Daizo Ishige (Pictures)'s first title defense against Carlos Condit (Pictures).
