Cage Force Tournaments Shaping Up
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Jordan Breen Jan 21, 2008
Sherdog.com has confirmed that leading Shooto promoter Sustain
offered Antonio
Carvalho (Pictures) a March 28 title bout against
143-pound Shooto world champion Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures).
Despite his November loss to Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the Shooto ring, Carvalho remains ranked second in the Shooto world rankings at 143 pounds behind "Lion Takeshi" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures). However, the 28-year-old Canadian has declined the title bout in order to compete in the Cage Force tournament.
It was previously thought that Tamura's first title defense would
likely be against Lion Takeshi, whom he defeated for the title last
May. The two fighters hold a win over each other, with Lion winning
a majority decision over Tamura in November 2005.
A source close to the International Shooto Commission has confirmed that it is hoped Tamura will defend his title on the March 28 Korakuen Hall card in Tokyo. Unless a top-ranked contender in the Shooto world rankings can compete against Tamura on the bill, though, his title defense will be postponed.
Ueda-Yamamoto Rounds Out Shooto Show
Sustain has also finalized the Jan. 26 lineup for its pro Shooto card at Korakuen Hall, adding a clash between stalwart 132-pounders Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures).
With a wide-open 132-pound title picture in pro Shooto, the bout carries particular significance. Both fighters are coming off unanimous decisions over standout grappler Tetsu "Hadairo" Suzuki, with Yamamoto taking a win in September and Ueda notching his victory on the final pro Shooto card of the year in December. The winner of the bout figures to make a considerable jump in the Shooto world rankings at 132 pounds, which is in need of contenders to inactive champion Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures).
Moreover, the bout contains a notable subplot. Yamamoto is the protégé of Japanese superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, whom he wrestled under at Yamanashi Gakuin University. Meanwhile, from his days of wrestling at Kokushikan University, Ueda holds a victory on the collegiate mats over Yamamoto's mentor.
Shoji-Oumakhanov KOP Clash Caps Pancrase Card
Pancrase has punctuated its Jan. 30 debut of the 2008 Shining Tour with a coronation bout.
To fit in with the realignment of its weight classes to more closely resemble the divisions prescribed by the Unified Rules, save a 128-pound class, Pancrase will crown its first lightweight champion at 155 pounds on the upcoming Korakuen Hall card. Originally it was thought that Pancrase would organize a four-man tournament held over two events to crown the 155-pound champion. Instead, the title will be decided in a single bout between young gunslinger Shoji and fast-rising Russian prospect Artur Oumakhanov (Pictures).
The 24-year-old Shoji has emerged as one of Pancrase's best young talents over the last 18 months. While still a limited competitor as a grappler, he has blistering knockout power and a vicious repertoire of strikes. The KIBA product is fresh off a dominating decision over longtime Pancrase veteran Takafumi Ito (Pictures) at the 2007 Rising Tour finale on Dec. 22.
Oumakhanov, a former Russian special operative, has quickly turned his combat sambo experience into MMA success. Following a knockout defeat in his first loss to surging Chute Boxe prospect Andre "Dida" Amade, Oumakhanov capped 2007 with back-to-back wins over fantastic competition in the Cage Force lightweight tournament, knocking off Tomonari Kanomata (Pictures) in November and then defeating Koutetsu Boku (Pictures) just over two weeks later.
The Shoji-Oumakhanov bout will be the first of two title fights on the bill. A rematch for the realigned welterweight King of Pancrase between provisional champ Katsuya Inoue (Pictures) and Satoru Kitaoka (Pictures) will headline the event.
Maeda to Meet Valencia in New Mexico
Meanwhile one Pancrase champion is set to head stateside.
The WEC has formally announced the full lineup for its Feb. 13 event at the Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, N.M. Sherdog.com reported that the event would include the American debut of standout Japanese featherweight Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), who will meet Leonard Garcia (Pictures) in 145-pound action, and the card will also feature the U.S. debut of Pancrase king Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), who will drop to 135 pounds to meet Charlie Valencia (Pictures).
Maeda has spent his career mostly fighting at 141 pounds in Pancrase. He had a solid 2007 campaign, going 3-0-1 on the year against quality international opposition, including a dominating win over U.K. standout Danny Batten (Pictures) and a tooth-and-nail draw with South Korean slugger Jong Man Kim (Pictures).
The long-touted Valencia has also competed at 145 pounds, but he has excelled at 135 and is coming off a destructive victory over then-undefeated Ian McCall (Pictures) in December.
Perhaps just as pertinent as his opposition, Maeda will also have to combat his reputation as a flake. Well-rounded and blessed with physical attributes, Maeda's major downfall in his career has been faltering in big fights against perceived lesser competition, such as his losses to Charles Bennett (Pictures) and Joe Pearson (Pictures). The Japanese fighter's international success will be largely contingent on his ability to overcome this perception in the cage.
Akiyama Camp Protests Misaki's KO Kick, Continued
Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures)'s protest may have legs.
As reported in this column last week, Akiyama and his camp have launched a protest in regard to his Dec. 31 knockout loss to Kazuo Misaki (Pictures). In the bout, a Misaki left hook dropped Akiyama. As he scrambled to his feet, Akiyama was knocked out with a vicious kick to the face. Following the bout, there was much speculation and debate as to whether the decisive blow had been illegal.
Last week Akiyama and his team filed a protest with K-1 and HERO'S parent company Fight Entertainment Group, which co-sponsored the Yarennoka event with M-1 Global. In a very brief statement, FEG President Sadaharu Tanigawa said he planned to review the fight tape and make a ruling on the matter. While the statement may have seemed tenuous, Yarennoka executive Keiichi Sasahara announced this week that he and his committee would in fact review the tape in accordance with Akiyama's complaint.
Sasahara clarified that while kicks to an opponent on four points were illegal under the Yarennoka rules, referee Daisuke Noguchi ruled that Akiyama was not in a four-point position when the kick struck. However, Sasahara said his executive committee would review the tape and assess the referee's decision.
Despite his November loss to Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures) in the Shooto ring, Carvalho remains ranked second in the Shooto world rankings at 143 pounds behind "Lion Takeshi" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures). However, the 28-year-old Canadian has declined the title bout in order to compete in the Cage Force tournament.
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A source close to the International Shooto Commission has confirmed that it is hoped Tamura will defend his title on the March 28 Korakuen Hall card in Tokyo. Unless a top-ranked contender in the Shooto world rankings can compete against Tamura on the bill, though, his title defense will be postponed.
Currently, Takeshi, Carvalho and Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures) occupy the top-three spots in the
Shooto 143-pound world rankings.
Ueda-Yamamoto Rounds Out Shooto Show
Sustain has also finalized the Jan. 26 lineup for its pro Shooto card at Korakuen Hall, adding a clash between stalwart 132-pounders Atsushi Yamamoto (Pictures) and Masakatsu Ueda (Pictures).
With a wide-open 132-pound title picture in pro Shooto, the bout carries particular significance. Both fighters are coming off unanimous decisions over standout grappler Tetsu "Hadairo" Suzuki, with Yamamoto taking a win in September and Ueda notching his victory on the final pro Shooto card of the year in December. The winner of the bout figures to make a considerable jump in the Shooto world rankings at 132 pounds, which is in need of contenders to inactive champion Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures).
Moreover, the bout contains a notable subplot. Yamamoto is the protégé of Japanese superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, whom he wrestled under at Yamanashi Gakuin University. Meanwhile, from his days of wrestling at Kokushikan University, Ueda holds a victory on the collegiate mats over Yamamoto's mentor.
Shoji-Oumakhanov KOP Clash Caps Pancrase Card
Pancrase has punctuated its Jan. 30 debut of the 2008 Shining Tour with a coronation bout.
To fit in with the realignment of its weight classes to more closely resemble the divisions prescribed by the Unified Rules, save a 128-pound class, Pancrase will crown its first lightweight champion at 155 pounds on the upcoming Korakuen Hall card. Originally it was thought that Pancrase would organize a four-man tournament held over two events to crown the 155-pound champion. Instead, the title will be decided in a single bout between young gunslinger Shoji and fast-rising Russian prospect Artur Oumakhanov (Pictures).
The 24-year-old Shoji has emerged as one of Pancrase's best young talents over the last 18 months. While still a limited competitor as a grappler, he has blistering knockout power and a vicious repertoire of strikes. The KIBA product is fresh off a dominating decision over longtime Pancrase veteran Takafumi Ito (Pictures) at the 2007 Rising Tour finale on Dec. 22.
Oumakhanov, a former Russian special operative, has quickly turned his combat sambo experience into MMA success. Following a knockout defeat in his first loss to surging Chute Boxe prospect Andre "Dida" Amade, Oumakhanov capped 2007 with back-to-back wins over fantastic competition in the Cage Force lightweight tournament, knocking off Tomonari Kanomata (Pictures) in November and then defeating Koutetsu Boku (Pictures) just over two weeks later.
The Shoji-Oumakhanov bout will be the first of two title fights on the bill. A rematch for the realigned welterweight King of Pancrase between provisional champ Katsuya Inoue (Pictures) and Satoru Kitaoka (Pictures) will headline the event.
Maeda to Meet Valencia in New Mexico
Meanwhile one Pancrase champion is set to head stateside.
The WEC has formally announced the full lineup for its Feb. 13 event at the Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, N.M. Sherdog.com reported that the event would include the American debut of standout Japanese featherweight Hiroyuki Takaya (Pictures), who will meet Leonard Garcia (Pictures) in 145-pound action, and the card will also feature the U.S. debut of Pancrase king Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures), who will drop to 135 pounds to meet Charlie Valencia (Pictures).
Maeda has spent his career mostly fighting at 141 pounds in Pancrase. He had a solid 2007 campaign, going 3-0-1 on the year against quality international opposition, including a dominating win over U.K. standout Danny Batten (Pictures) and a tooth-and-nail draw with South Korean slugger Jong Man Kim (Pictures).
The long-touted Valencia has also competed at 145 pounds, but he has excelled at 135 and is coming off a destructive victory over then-undefeated Ian McCall (Pictures) in December.
Perhaps just as pertinent as his opposition, Maeda will also have to combat his reputation as a flake. Well-rounded and blessed with physical attributes, Maeda's major downfall in his career has been faltering in big fights against perceived lesser competition, such as his losses to Charles Bennett (Pictures) and Joe Pearson (Pictures). The Japanese fighter's international success will be largely contingent on his ability to overcome this perception in the cage.
Akiyama Camp Protests Misaki's KO Kick, Continued
Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures)'s protest may have legs.
As reported in this column last week, Akiyama and his camp have launched a protest in regard to his Dec. 31 knockout loss to Kazuo Misaki (Pictures). In the bout, a Misaki left hook dropped Akiyama. As he scrambled to his feet, Akiyama was knocked out with a vicious kick to the face. Following the bout, there was much speculation and debate as to whether the decisive blow had been illegal.
Last week Akiyama and his team filed a protest with K-1 and HERO'S parent company Fight Entertainment Group, which co-sponsored the Yarennoka event with M-1 Global. In a very brief statement, FEG President Sadaharu Tanigawa said he planned to review the fight tape and make a ruling on the matter. While the statement may have seemed tenuous, Yarennoka executive Keiichi Sasahara announced this week that he and his committee would in fact review the tape in accordance with Akiyama's complaint.
Sasahara clarified that while kicks to an opponent on four points were illegal under the Yarennoka rules, referee Daisuke Noguchi ruled that Akiyama was not in a four-point position when the kick struck. However, Sasahara said his executive committee would review the tape and assess the referee's decision.
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