Sandro knocks out Kanehara: Taro Irei/Sherdog.com
Quickly emerging as one of the sport’s most devastating finishers, Sandro knocked out Masanori Kanehara with a right uppercut 38 seconds into the opening round to capture the Sengoku featherweight championship at Sengoku Raiden Championships 13 on Sunday at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Sandro has posted 38-, nine- and 19-second victories in his last five appearances. A training partner of World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight king Jose Aldo, the 33-year-old Nova Uniao standout has delivered three consecutive wins since his controversial “must” decision to Michihiro Omigawa in the 2009 Sengoku featherweight grand prix semifinals.
Kanehara ate a straight right and the finishing uppercut from Sandro. He had to be carried from the cage on a stretcher and had not yet regained full consciousness. Sandro, who also holds the featherweight King of Pancrase crown, was reduced to tears in wake of his latest conquest.
“This is my childhood dream to win this belt,” Sandro said. “Thanks for supporting me. Jose Aldo, you are number one, but I’m also number one, too. I have two belts.”
Meanwhile, Keita Nakamura -- a second-round technical knockout winner over 2009 Bellator Fighting Championships tournament finalist Omar de la Cruz -- and Takuya Wada -- a split decision winner against Jae Sun Lee -- advanced in the opening round of the Sengoku welterweight grand prix.
At an event filled with finishes, lightweight King of Pancrase Maximo Blanco made sure to get in on the act, as he stopped Strikeforce veteran Rodrigo Damm on second-round strikes. Damm met his demise 45 seconds into round two. A flurry from Blanco put Damm on all fours, and follow-up blows forced an intervention from the referee.
Finally, light heavyweight King of Pancrase Ryo Kawamura dispatched Hidetada Irie on punches 3:00 into the second round. The 28-year-old Kawamura has posted three wins in four fights since his unanimous decision defeat to current Strikeforce champion Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal in March 2009.
Other Bouts
Hiroshi Izumi def. Chang Seob Lee -- TKO (Punches) 4:37 R1
Yasubey Enomoto def. Sanae Kikuta -- TKO (Punches) 3:57 R1
Shigeki Osawa def. Katsuya Toida -- Disqualification (Groin Strikes) 1:35 R3
Doo Ho Choi def. Ikuo Usuda -- Split Decision
Kazuki Tokudome def. Yuma Ishizuka -- TKO (Punches) 3:22 R1
Ye Won Nam def. Ikkei Nagamura -- Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3:03 R1
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