MMA Pro-Fighting

Dream-2 Middle Weight GP 1st round

Former Pride Champion Kazushi Sakuraba
Defeated Kyokushin Champ Andrews Nakahara 

Saitama-shi, Japan- Dream, Japan’s new MMA organization, hosted round one of a middle-weight GP championships on April 29th at Saitama’s Super Arena in Japan.  Veteran fighter Kazushi Sakuraba (38yrs) faced kyokushin karate middleweight world champion Andrews Nakahara (25yrs) of Brazil in front of 21,397 fans. Sakuraba tackled Nakahara’s sidekicks and choked him from behind, forcing Nakahara to tap out 8’ 29” into the first round. Sakuraba’s victory moves him up into the 2nd round. Other first round winners include Ronald Jakarey, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, who defeated Ian Marfee of US with a bare hand choke in round 1 (3’ 37”). Jakarey advanced to the 2nd round on June 15th at the Yokohama Arena in Japan.

K-1 World GP 2008 - Schilt Knocks Out Hunt

K-1 World GP 2008- Super heavy-weight champion Semmy Schilt (HOL) defeated former K-1 champion Mark Hunt (NZL) by knock-out. The Yokohama Arena was packed with 10,629 fans who gathered to watch this super heavy-weight title match on April 13th. The 6ft 11in giant Schilt faced 2001 K-1 champ Mark Hunt (5’ 10”). Schilt used his height to his advantage by attacking with his left knee and high right round kick. Schilt ended the fight by knocking out Hunt in 3 min 6 sec for a KO victory. Schilt defended his 2nd title fight, and has now defeated all K-1 former champions. Other winners included 2007 Kyokushin Karate world champion winner Envelton Tiseila (BRA) who defeated Yusuke Fujimoto (JPN) 2’ 02” into the 2nd round with a right straight knock out.

New MMA Organization SENGOKU Opened in Tokyo. 3 /05
 

Former UFC Champion Josh Barnet Defeated Pro Judo-ka
Hidehiko Yoshida at SENGOKU Opening Event

Tokyo- A new Japanese MMA organization called SENGOKU was formed in October 2007 with former Pride fighters like pro-judoka Yoshida after Las Vegas-based UFC bought out the Pride organization last April. Sengoku’s first event was held at Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo on March 5th in front of 15,523 fans. Pro-judoka and former judo Olympic Champion Hidehiko Yoshida (38yrs) faced former UFC champion Josh Barnet (30yrs) of USA in the main event. Yoshida’s powerful judo throwing techniques controlled Barnet early on, but heavyweight champion Barnet use his strength to grind down Yoshida’s defenses. Barnet took Yoshida’s ankle to finish off Yoshida in the 3rd round (3’ 23”). It has been over a year since his last Pride fight in April, 2007.
The fight card also included Kazuyuki Fujita (JPN) who defeated Peter Graham (AUS) with a choke 1’ 23” into the 1st round. Olympic medalist and pro-judo-ka Makoto Takimoto (JPN) was defeated by Evang Lista Syborg (BRA) 4’ 51” into the 1st round. Takimoto had no defenses against Syborg’s heel lock, an unfamiliar technique for someone with a background in judo.

News flash!
K-1 Top contender Hong-Man Choi in Korean Army

K-1 Fighter and former Korean sumo champion Hong-Man Choi (27yrs) will serve in the Korean army. The 7ft 2”, 355lb fighter will join the 36th army infantry division and begin a 4-week-long basic training session. Choi decided to serve on his own terms so he can concentrate on K-1 soon after.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu World Champion Roger Gracie To Fight In Sengoku

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu World champion Roger Gracie (26yrs) will fight in a Sengoku event May 18th against Japan’s Pancration champion Yuki Kondo. Roger Gracie commented, “I will take him in to the ground to finish him for sure. Soon or later, I will face Pro-Judoka Yoshida in a Judo vs. Jiu-jitsu fight again.”