Final Preparations! SENGOKU XI

#11: Weigh-In Results

9. FW: Michihiro Omigawa (64.9kg) vs. Hatsu Hioki (64.9kg)
8. MW: Jorge Santiago (83kg) vs. Mamed Khalidov (82.4kg)
7. LW: Satoru Kitaoka (70kg) vs. Jorge Masvidal (70kg)
6. LW: Kazunori Yokota (69.7kg) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (70kg)
5. LHW: Kevin Randleman (92.1kg) vs. Stanislav Nedkov (92.5kg)
4. WW: Akihiro Gono (76kg) vs. Shin Ramen (75.8kg)
3. FW: Marlon Sandro (65kg) vs. Yuji Hoshino (65kg)
2. HW: Dave Herman (108.7kg) vs. Big Jim York (116.3kg)
1. FW: Shigeki Osawa (64.8kg) vs. Ronnie Ushiwaka (64.6kg)

#10: BJJ Blue Belt Randleman

BB Randleman - GBRing.com

Kevin Randleman showed off his new blue belt in BJJ, which he received this past monday after four years of BJJ training, saying that the blue belt is even more important to him than the UFC Heavyweight belt he once held.

Randleman has been training at the Tapout Training Facility.

#9: The Story Of Shin Ramen

Shin Ramen X Shin Ramen - Kamipro.com

Shin Ramen is very popular in Korea and the reason why Yoon Young Kim now use it as a ring name is because his father works at a shin ramen manufacture company. Kim, whose father laughs whenever he tells him his ring name, decided on the name for several reasons, one being that he is sponsored by shin ramen and another because shin ramen is popular in Japan as well.

The shin ramen talk continues, with Kim saying that he grew 15 cm in one year because of it (he’s a 190 cm tall Welterweight) and that there are always packets of it at his house (since before he was born). He even talks about doing a commercial if he continues to fight in SENGOKU.

About his opponent, Akihiro Gono, Kim says he knew about Gono even before he started MMA so he has respect for him. He thinks that Gono’s pace during fights is excellent.

#8: Masvidal Calls Kitaoka An Oompa Loompa

Masvidal called Kitaoka an “Oompa Loompa XX (some swear word) rascal (should probably be translated to something heavier in English in this case)” in his comment back when the fight was announced. Today, seeing Kitaoka in person, Masvidal once again said that Kitaoka resembles an Oompa Loompa. The only difference is that Kitaoka is more musuclar and bigger.

To this Kitaoka said: “At first I didn’t know what an Oompa Loompa was. I searched for it on the internet but I don’t think I resemble one. I thought I was being compared to an even uglier character so it was even less uglier than I had thought.”

#7: Kitaoka Stands Out

Yokota fan - GBRing.com

Satoru Kitaoka stood out the most at today’s press conference, eating bananas and drinking water after just making the weight. He also took pictures of Yokota with his cellphone while Yokota was talking.

#6: Fighters Gathered

Fighters gathered - Kamipro.com

#5: Khalidov Speaks

The media caught up with Mameda Khalidov on Thursday for questions and comments. Mamed says that he’s very happy that he’s able to fight the champion in his first fight in SENGOKU and that fighting in Japan has been one of his dreams. He thinks that this is a prime opportunity to display his strength.

Mamed says that he wants to fight his own style as he has done in the past despite fighting the champion. When asked about his strongest point, Mamed said that he fights depending on the circumstances and that he has many tools both standing-up and on the ground.

About getting an immediate title shot if he wins the fight, Mamed says that it’s great if it becomes so. He wants to think about something like that after the fight though.

#4: Khalidov Training Video

Video of Mamed Khalidov training for SENGOKU XI.

#3: Santiago Arrived Early

SENGOKU Middleweight Jorge Santiago has been in Japan since October 26th to get used to the Japanese environment. Today he held an open training session at a metropolitan are hotel and talked with the press afterward.

Santiago says that he has been training throughout his fight inactivity (his last fight was on January 4th). He fought a lot last year, but with that nagging injuries followed. He says that he’s been able to recover from those injuries during the free interval and he currently feels 100%.

Santiago has reconstructed his physical training since the start of this year so this fight came at a good time for him. About his opponent, Khalidov, he says that trainer Ricardo Liborio has studied him and he thinks that he’s dangerous. Santiago says that while he’s the champion, he always go into fights with the mindset of a challenger.

About a possible participation at SRC 12 on NYE, Santiago says that he definitely wants to fight at the event. “I’m a fan of judo, Yoshida and Ishii are fighting right? I definitely want to stand on the same stage.”

About an opponent, Santiago says that he doesn’t choose but it will probably be a Japanese fighter. He says that even Misaki is fine for an opponent and he wants Misaki to make an early return from his suspension.

Source: GBRing

#2: SRC Damashii Episode 4

A lot of focus on Omigawa and some on Shigeki Osawa.

SRC Damashii Episode 4 Part 1, 2, 3

#1: Savage Vs. Genius

Savage Omigawa - GBRing.com

Michihiro Omigawa and Shigeki Osawa held their open training sessions at the J-ROCK workout studio in Tokyo today.

Omigawa, who said that his condition is the same as always, showed a very sharp right straight when he punched the mitts held by his usual trainer.

Omigawa compared his fight with Hioki to a test in school. Though he didn’t study much during his days as a student, Omigawa once got a perfect score in math in senior high school so he wants to go into the fight with a similar feeling he had at that time.

The theme for the fight? “Hioki is a genius, he’s skillful/smart, while he has that kind of an image, I’m a savage and have a wild image.”

Omigawa thinks that Hioki’s MMA potential is high. However, Omigawa says that he will extinguish that light. “Not “Hatsu” (hatsu means departure) Hioki, but I’ll make it “Chaku” (chaku means arrival) Hioki for him. (broad grin)”