The little-known little man out of Natal, Brazil, made a big impression in his biggest fight to date, as he took a well-appointed unanimous decision over Shooto world champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima on July 19. The logical next step would be for the International Shooto Commission to sanction a rematch with Kojima’s title on the line for later this year.
2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)
The Shooto world champion continued his career-long streak of inconsistency, dropping a unanimous verdict to Brazilian Jussier da Silva in a non-title bout on July 19. Whether or not Kojima will get a do-over with a title on the line remains to be seen.
3. Yuki Shojo (9-5-2)
In his first bout since falling to Shooto world champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima in March, Shojo took a competitive, albeit pedestrian, majority decision over former bantamweight Junya Kudo and kept pace in Shooto’s active 123-pound class.
4. Yasuhiro Urushitani (16-4-6)
Though he deserved the victory the first time they fought in May 2008, justice prevailed in Urushitani’s Sept. 22 rematch with Ryuichi Miki, as he slickly boxed his way to a unanimous decision verdict over the former Shooto rookie champion.
5. Ryuichi Miki (9-3-3)
The rematch between Miki and Yasuhiro Urushitani was largely a replay of their first bout, but this time Miki’s aggression did not sway the judges, and he lost a unanimous decision. The loss was Miki’s first since March 2006.
6. Rambaa Somdet (6-2)
As expected, Somdet will take part in a match to crown the first-ever Shooto 115-pound world champion on Nov. 23. He will take on surging strawweight Noboru “Shinpei” Tahara, whom he previously defeated in September 2008.
7. Pat Runez (3-0)
Showing savvy far beyond his actual MMA experience, Runez overcame an early shellacking from John Dodson to take a well-earned split decision win on Oct. 3, as he claimed the Ultimate Warrior Challenge flyweight title in what was the most significant 125-pound bout to date outside of Japan.
8. Masaaki Sugawara (9-3-1)
Sugawara earned a first-round stoppage over Yasuhiro Akagi on July 19. He returned two months later on Sept. 20 and took a well-deserved split decision over Hiroyuki Tanaka to keep moving up the ladder in Shooto’s 123-pound class.
9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (10-5-3)
Sunabe captured the first flyweight King of Pancrase championship by crushing Takuya Eizumi in June. Now, the Okinawa native will make his first defense against unbeaten Isao Hirose on Oct. 25.
10. Alexis Vila (6-0)
One of the flyweight division’s most intriguing prospects, Vila punched out Cody Bell in the second round on Sept. 26. The stoppage was the fifth in six career bouts for the 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist.
Other contenders: John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Junji Ikoma, Ayumu Shioda, Jesse Taitano.
* With the entry of Pat Runez, formerly 10th-ranked Jesse Taitano falls to the contenders list.