Fights! Korean Fight Weekend

Denis Kang vs. Jae Young Kim
Daisuke Nakamura vs. Wim DePutter
Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Bruno Carvalho

Unfortunately the fight between Kwang Hee Lee and Ui Cheol Nam didn’t take place because Lee injured his hand before the fight. However, Nam still fought and after watching his fight I really want to see him against Lee. He is very aggressive. They brought Lee into the ring after the fight and probably announced that they will fight in the future. The SpiritMC event, which used PRIDE rules minus the 10 minute first round, was very entertaining.

Cyborg Training Footage! Preparing For The GP

Here is a video from August 21st of Evangelista Cyborg training for his quarterfinal match against Siyar Bahadurzada in the SENGOKU Middleweight GP.

D&S Links! Master Ishii Is Back

Read about what Kazuyoshi Ishii has been up to since being released from prison and about WVR sponsor Don Quijote now being a controlling partner of Pancrase in this article at Sherdog.

When is J.Z. Calvan coming back? What is he up to right now? What did he think about the DREAM Lightweight GP Finals? Read the latest J.Z. interview translated from Japanese to English here.

Xande Riberio talks preparations for SENGOKU V, Roger Gracie, and Josh Barnett in this article at GracieMag.

Xande Ribeiro SENGOKU IV Introduction Video!

I really like the music that is played when he walks out. I wouldn’t mind if that was the music played in the opening ceremonies of the SENGOKU events.

Two Middleweight GP Fights Announced! PANCRASEism Vs. GRABAKA

WVR announced three fights for their SENGOKU V card on September 28th today. In two Middleweight GP fights Yuki Kondo will face Yuki Sasaki and Shooto champion Siyar Bahadurzada will take on Evangelista Cyborg. In a Lightweight fight Ryan Schultz returns quickly after his KO loss at the hands of Mizuto Hirota to take on Jorge Masvidal, who also has one loss in SENGOKU. I think the Kondo vs. Sasaki fight is the first time two Japanese have met in SENGOKU.

Update: The winner of the Schultz vs. Masvidal fight will get a spot in the reserve fight of the Lightweight GP Finals at SENGOKU VI (probably in early November).

Update #2: Ribeiro’s opponent is already decided, but as the contract hasn’t been signed yet, they couldn’t make an announcement today.

Update #3: The last two GP participants, who are American and South Korean, will be announced early next week along with the match-ups they are in. Don’t be surprised if the Korean is Min Suk Heo. I really hope it’s Eun Soo Lee instead though.

SENGOKU V
Date: September 28th, 2008
Place: National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, Japan

Lightweight Fight:
Ryan Schultz vs. Jorge Masvidal

Middleweight GP Series 2008 1st Round:
Evangelista Cyborg vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
Yuki Kondo vs. Yuki Sasaki
Jorge Santiago
Kazuhiro Nakamura

Participants:
Xande Ribeiro
Roger Gracie

Possible Participants:
Ryo Kawamura

James Thompson To Sign With Either DREAM Or SENGOKU!

According to a new article at MMARated, James Thompson is in serious talks with FEG and WVR to fight in either DREAM.6 or SENGOKU V in September. If he signs with WVR, don’t be surprised to see a second fight with Yoshida as Yoshida has stated in the past that he wants a rematch.

DREAM & SENGOKU Veterans Fighting In Korea This Weekend!

There are a few DREAM & SENGOKU veterans competing on M-1 Challenge tomorrow and Spirit MC on Sunday in Korea. On M-1 Challenge tomorrow Daisuke Nakamura, who is on a 5 fight winning streak, will face Wim DePutter in a Team Japan vs. World Team fight and DREAM.1 veteran Tatsuya Mizuno, who has fought once and won after his fight against Mirko CroCop, will take on Bruno Carvalho.

At Spirit MC 18 on Sunday Kwang Hee Lee returns for the first time since his loss to Eiji Mitsuoka at SENGOKU II to take on Ui Cheol Nam and Denis Kang, who is on a two fight losing streak, will defend his Spirit MC Heavyweight title against Jae Young Kim, who is on a six fight winning streak.

Update: A SENGOKU press conference is also supposed to take place tomorrow.

Kondo Wins By KO! Blanco Debut A No Contest

Yuki Kondo won by KO today at the Pancrase 2008 Shining Tour event for the first time since 2003. He KO’d Ryuji Ohori at 2:41 of the 2nd round to take home the victory and a spot in the 2008 SENGOKU Middleweight GP.

SENGOKU training player Maximo Blanco made his MMA debut at the same event. The fight ended as a NC after only 56 seconds into the 1st round. I’m not sure what happened but I think his opponent, Yuki Yashima, had a triangle on Maximo, so Maximo lifts him up, slams him and starts pounding on him. The referee waves off the fight so Maximo thinks he’s won. The referees gather and discuss. Apparently Blanco headbutted Yashima at the moment of landing (maybe like Rampage vs. Arona) so the fight is ruled a NC.

Update: The Sengoku “sponsered” (not sure what it means) Maximo Blanco spoiled his chances to get an easy win by head-butting (accidental), then not breaking, THEN stomping his opponent. IMO he was lucky not to get a DQ in this fight. A very talented guy though. Source: Japan-MMA.com.

Update #2: Sengoku-sponsored Maximo Blanco looked fierce in his Pancrase debut, though his bout left fans wanting a conclusion. Sucked into an early triangle, Blanco picked Yuki Yashima up and powerbombed him, unintentionally head butting him in the process.

Blanco immediately went into ground-and-pound mode as referee Yoshinori Umeki tried to step between the two. Blanco did not stop. He continued to punch and even attempted a stomp on the prone Yashima. Though Blanco believed he had won, the referee soon explained that due to the head butt, Yashima could not continue, ruling the bout a no contest at a mere 56 seconds in the first. Source: Sherdog.com.

SENGOKU V
Date: September 28th, 2008
Place: National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, Japan

Middleweight GP Series 2008 1st Round:
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Evangelista Cyborg
Jorge Santiago
Siyar Bahadurzada
Yuki Sasaki
Yuki Kondo

Participants:
Xande Ribeiro
Roger Gracie
Jorge Masvidal

Possible Participants:
Ryo Kawamura

Kevin Randleman To Return At SENGOKU VI!

In an interview with PunchDrunkGamer.com Kevin Randleman, whose injured shoulder is doing good, confirms that he should return to SENGOKU in November barring any setbacks.

Mirko Vs. Alistair At DREAM.6?!

First, here is a recent Mirko CroCop interview. Thanks to http://www.betwwx.com/ufc-odds/ for the translation and many other Mirko news that have been sent to me in the past.

These days, Mirko Filipovic is going to Amsterdam to train stand-up.

“My knee is excellent (after surgery). I dont have any problems. I am in good shape and I am preparing for my next fight which will happen on 23th September for sure.

“Today I am going to Amsterdam where I will be preparing with Remy Bonjasky and Ivan Hyppolite. I trained in Zagreb with Dean Lister who is one of the best grapplers. It wasnt just preparation for this fight, its allways good to have that kind of sparing partner.”

“It isnt still confirmed, but I would like to fight vs Overeem. I really dont know why he said that kind of statements. I was never choosing my opponents. That kind of conversation is not my style but I would like to say to him to save his strength for ring, not for talking. I really want this fight.

“He is good fighter, excellent puncher, and also good in parter. He had 93 kg and he jumped to 108 kilos and with his 196 centimeters he really looks impressive. But weight is always a two-edged sword.”

“I am in great shape and I believe that there should not be any problem” said Mirko about that fight

Source: Index.hr

In even more recent Mirko news, a Croatian article and video on Dnevnik.hr says that Mirko will fight Alistair Overeem at DREAM.6. Thanks to PunchDrunkGamer.com for the translation.