Sengoku ‘Soul of Fight’ Preview

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Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura vs. Yasubey Enomoto

In the final of Sengoku’s welterweight grand prix, UFC and Dream veteran Nakamura faces European exotic bird Enomoto.

Nakamura’s career began with a 17-fight, 36-month unbeaten streak, which included solid wins over Daisuke Nakamura and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Despite his experience in Cage Force and Shooto, the jump into the UFC proved too much for the 22-year-old “K-Taro,” who lost all three of his fights inside the Octagon on points. Nakamura even “retired” from MMA following a close defeat to Robert Emerson, but that turned out to be only a three-month break. The Tokyo-based fighter has reached the tournament final using his sharpened striking -- honed at the Marupro kickboxing and Shinagawa Ranger boxing gyms -- having punched out King of Pancrase Takuya Wada and Bellator vet Omar de la Cruz.

While Nakamura climbed the Japanese ranks, Enomoto traveled the German muay Thai and grappling circuits. The Swiss-Peruvian-Japanese hybrid took second place at the ADCC German trials in 2007 and won the IKBO world championship title in 2008, but 2010 was the year “Yasu” synthesized his excellence in those martial arts in the MMA ring. Originally seen as a tune-up opponent for Sanae Kikuta, Enomoto stopped the Japanese ADCC champ in one round, forcing his way into the welterweight tournament. There, he bulldog-choked Kenta Takagi and decisioned Taisuke Okuno to gain entrance to the final.

Prediction: Enomoto should have the advantage on the feet, while Nakamura will have a slight edge on the ground. The question is whether Enomoto can win the fight on the judges’ scorecards should the bout go the distance. A split or majority decision for Nakamura seems the most likely outcome.