After upsetting Shooto world champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima in a non-title affair in July, it was expected “Formiga” would be brought back for a year-end title rematch. However, those prospects are in limbo as da Silva’s management and pro Shooto promoters haggle over purse figures for the Natalense fighter.
2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)
Kojima’s Shooto world title run had effectively been on the rocks since July, when he was dominated in a non-title affair against Jussier da Silva. “BJ” officially ended his title reign in March, though, vacating the Shooto world title due to a knee injury and freeing up the Shooto 123-pound title picture.
3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (23-5-3)
After a decade-long career in which he had never fought outside of Shooto sanctioning, Yamaguchi headed to King of the Cage in Okinawa and bulldozed previously unbeaten Frank Baca for a second-round submission victory. The win gave Yamaguchi the KOTC 125-pound title and a new window of opportunity later in his pioneering career.
4. Yuki Shojo (10-5-2)
In a more entertaining outing than his September majority points win over Junya Kudo, Shojo picked up a lopsided unanimous decision victory over tough Guam product Jesse Taitano on March 22 to keep pace in the Shooto 123-pound division.
5. Yasuhiro Urushitani (16-4-6)
After two unsuccessful bids to win the Shooto 123-pound world title in 2003 and 2007, will the third time be the charm for Urushitani? On May 30, he will square off with Ryuichi Miki, whom he defeated last September, for the title that Shinichi “BJ” Kojima vacated in March.
6. Ryuichi Miki (10-3-3)
Miki owns a 0-1-1 record against Yasuhiro Urushitani. “The Way of Shooto 3” on May 30 represents Miki’s chance to finally put a tally in the win column. Better still, if he does so, he will walk out of JCB Hall in Tokyo as the fourth 123-pound world champion of pro Shooto.
7. Pat Runez (4-0)
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. Kiyotaka Shimizu (5-3-1)
Less than two years ago, Shimizu began a professional career that started 0-2-1. In the last 10 months, Shimizu holds a 5-1 mark, and on Feb. 7, he upset Mitsuhisa Sunabe to claim the featherweight King of Pancrase title. Coincidentally, it was Sunabe who defeated Shimizu in his pro debut in April 2008.
9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (11-6-3)
In a close, competitive contest, Sunabe lost his featherweight King of Pancrase title to Kiyotaka Shimizu. The bout was the second meeting between the two fighters, with Sunabe winning the first in April 2008. With a relative lack of new contenders in the Pancrase flyweight division, a rubber match between the two may not be far off.
10. Masaaki Sugawara (9-4-1)
On a card full of flyweight action, Masaaki Sugawara will take main event duties on the April 24 “Gig Tokyo 4” card. In the headliner, he squares off with rising prospect and 2008 Shooto rookie champion Fumihiro Kitahara.
Other contenders: John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Fumihiro Kitahara, Ayumu Shioda, Alexis Vila.