Team: K’z Factory ROOTS
Height: 5' 6” (168 cm)
Weight: 143lbs (65kg)
Record: 23-9-2
SHOOTO record: 20-8-1
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team: Shah Franco
Height: 5' 8” (173 cm)
Weight: 145 lbs. (66 kg)
Record: 8-1-0
SHOOTO record: 3-1-0
Sato is perhaps the most well known SHOOTO fighter, not only in Japan but the rest of the world. In his twelfth year as a professional and having experienced many ups and downs since 2000, Sato has managed to capture the imagination of SHOOTO and MMA fans alike. He is at the same time one of the most exciting pound-for-pound fighters in the world and one of the most disappointing and tragic figures in the sport.
Losing three titles matches at SHOOTO 154 pounds and having lost to Caol Uno (Pictures), Takanori Gomi (Pictures), Javier Vazquez (Pictures) and Joachim Hansen (Pictures) in his latest run as SHOOTO welterweight, Sato decided that it was best for him to drop weight and fight at 143 inside the SHOOTO lightweight division. “Pequeno” welcomed him with a guillotine choke in just 41 seconds. Later, Sato won four in a row just to drop a possible No. 1-contender position to Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) in August 2004 by TKO.
His opponent this time is Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and, until recently, SHOOTO Americas No. 1-ranked Antonio Carvalho (Pictures), who fights out of Canada’s Shah Franco team.
Carvalho made his Japan debut in August 2005 when he took a two-week-notice fight against hot prospect “Lion” Takeshi. Carvalho worked his way with good striking and excellent ground defense to keep Takeshi at bay and win a majority decision.
Prediction:
This one is another big toss and here is why: Sato is on a mission and he knows he’s running out of time to get a title in SHOOTO. With a recently opened gym he’s more likely thinking about retirement and concentrating in teaching if he doesn’t get another title match this year.
Carvalho should be in the most peaceful state of mind because he has nothing to lose. Now Carvalho works perfectly into Sato’s weakness with good a clinch and ground game. Sato’s overall “bad luck” in big moments — especially with this being unofficially labeled as the No.1-bout to the “Pequeno” Nogueira-Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) title match later this year — I can see all the pieces falling together for another tragic Sato moment.
Still my heart says Sato but my head says Carvalho. The key for Carvalho here is to survive Sato’s initial blitzkrieg in the first minutes. If he can do this then I could see Carvalho taking this one home. Otherwise, expect Sato to come out fully charged and attack Carvalho non-stop with a possible submission victory later in the second round.