Shooto’s Best 143-Pounders on Display
Osawa vs. Galvao
Jordan Breen May 17, 2007
Kenji
Osawa (Pictures) (Wajyutsu Keisyukai A3) vs.
"Louro" Marcos Galvao
(Pictures) (Nova Uniao)
Make no mistake: Kenji Osawa (Pictures) and Marcos Galvao (Pictures) don't have too much in common. However, both are out for revenge against current Shooto world 132-pound champion Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures), who served up two chilly cans of asswhoop to each of them en route to taking the title.
With Hokazono set to defend his title for the first time in July,
this fight will give Osawa or Louro their opportunity to exact a
bit of always-sweet-and-never-fattening wild justice in the heat of
Tokyo's summer.
As mentioned, Osawa and Louro sharply contrasted one another. While it would be untrue to call this bout a pure stylistic match-up -- few of which exist in modern mixed martial arts -- but the modus operandi for both fighters is clear. Tall for a 132-pounder and having competed at 145 in the past, Louro is not gifted in the stand-up. However, like many potent grapplers, Louro has shown a willingness to stand and bang. For the most part, this hasn't been disastrous due to the fact that he's faced no great strikers. However, when he faced a talented striker in Hokazono, Louro was floored and dominated.
With Osawa bringing the striking edge, Louro brings the grappling cred to the table. A world-class grappler, and BJJ black belt under Andre Pederneiras, Louro has all the ground tools one would expect out of a Nova Uniao competitor. While all of his wins have come by decision, it only takes a quick glance at his hit list to realize that Louro hasn't exactly been tangling with the Art Jimmersons of the world.
As a position-first submission specialist, there's likely no greater assurance that you're going to be headed to the judges' cards than taking on the likes of Masato Shiozawa (Pictures), Jin Akimoto (Pictures), Fredson Paixao (Pictures) and Naoya Uematsu (Pictures).
While not the best grappler in the world, Osawa is no slouch on the mat, and has developed very good submission defense, showcased in the Naoya Uematsu (Pictures) bout. However, in no way will his grappling test Louro's; it becomes a question of takedown defense. Louro does not have great takedowns, but he does have a size advantage which helps. While Osawa has worked largely on his takedown defense and ground escapes for this fight, it is hard to imagine that Louro won't take him down at some point in the bout, and be able to control the position.
This bout is perhaps the hardest to predict on the card. While Osawa is the much more dynamic fighter, capable of dishing out big damage and reducing a fighter like Louro to a flailing mummy in desperate pursuit of a takedown, it is extremely hard to go against the position-based dominance of a guy like Louro, especially given his size and strength advantages. Moreover, Louro is very tough, and refused to lay down and die amidst a nasty beating at the end of his fight against Hokazono, so his ability to absorb damage and stay in the fight may be something he can draw upon.
The safe bet is a Louro win by decision, but Osawa has the right tools to be an incredibly live underdog -- a role in which he's excelled at in the past.
Make no mistake: Kenji Osawa (Pictures) and Marcos Galvao (Pictures) don't have too much in common. However, both are out for revenge against current Shooto world 132-pound champion Akitoshi Hokazono (Pictures), who served up two chilly cans of asswhoop to each of them en route to taking the title.
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As mentioned, Osawa and Louro sharply contrasted one another. While it would be untrue to call this bout a pure stylistic match-up -- few of which exist in modern mixed martial arts -- but the modus operandi for both fighters is clear. Tall for a 132-pounder and having competed at 145 in the past, Louro is not gifted in the stand-up. However, like many potent grapplers, Louro has shown a willingness to stand and bang. For the most part, this hasn't been disastrous due to the fact that he's faced no great strikers. However, when he faced a talented striker in Hokazono, Louro was floored and dominated.
While Osawa also tasted the mat against Hokazono, and wound up with
two nasty swollen eyes, he is by far the better striker. He's
always been willing to bang in his career, but it's only as of
recent that he's developed the technical striking acumen to be a
seriously potent threat on the feet. Under the guidance of Takeshi Yamada at the JB Sports
Gym, Osawa has come into his own as a fighter, finally boasting
standing skills to match his unflinching desire to stand and trade.
Blessed with a powerful punch, and very good knees from the Thai
clinch, Osawa will definitely look the keep the fight standing at
all costs.
With Osawa bringing the striking edge, Louro brings the grappling cred to the table. A world-class grappler, and BJJ black belt under Andre Pederneiras, Louro has all the ground tools one would expect out of a Nova Uniao competitor. While all of his wins have come by decision, it only takes a quick glance at his hit list to realize that Louro hasn't exactly been tangling with the Art Jimmersons of the world.
As a position-first submission specialist, there's likely no greater assurance that you're going to be headed to the judges' cards than taking on the likes of Masato Shiozawa (Pictures), Jin Akimoto (Pictures), Fredson Paixao (Pictures) and Naoya Uematsu (Pictures).
While not the best grappler in the world, Osawa is no slouch on the mat, and has developed very good submission defense, showcased in the Naoya Uematsu (Pictures) bout. However, in no way will his grappling test Louro's; it becomes a question of takedown defense. Louro does not have great takedowns, but he does have a size advantage which helps. While Osawa has worked largely on his takedown defense and ground escapes for this fight, it is hard to imagine that Louro won't take him down at some point in the bout, and be able to control the position.
This bout is perhaps the hardest to predict on the card. While Osawa is the much more dynamic fighter, capable of dishing out big damage and reducing a fighter like Louro to a flailing mummy in desperate pursuit of a takedown, it is extremely hard to go against the position-based dominance of a guy like Louro, especially given his size and strength advantages. Moreover, Louro is very tough, and refused to lay down and die amidst a nasty beating at the end of his fight against Hokazono, so his ability to absorb damage and stay in the fight may be something he can draw upon.
The safe bet is a Louro win by decision, but Osawa has the right tools to be an incredibly live underdog -- a role in which he's excelled at in the past.
