Sengoku 10: Blanco vs Yamada, Gold Cup superfights Japan vs South Korea announcedhttp://mmamania.com/2009/08/12/sengoku- ... announced/World Victory Road (WVR) recently announced the latest match-ups for it’s Sengoku 10 event, which takes place on Sept. 23 from the Saitama Community Arena in Saitama, Japan.
First up will be a lightweight scrap between dangerous Brazilian Maximo Blanco (3-2-1) and young prospect Tetsuya Yamada (3-1).
Blanco last competed for Sengoku this May against Akihiko Mori (7-6-1) at Sengoku 4, where he had the fight all but finished when he landed a right hook that would drop Mori to floor, and with a prone opponent ready for the taking Blanco made the mistake of illegally viciously soccer kicking Mori in the face, leaving him out cold. Blanco was disqualified for his actions and Mori was given the win.
He managed to get back on the winning path earlier this month when he captured the lightweight King of Pancrase title against Katsuya Inoue (18-7-4) at Pancrase: “Changing Tour 4,” defeating his much more experienced foe with a straight left that dropped Inoue and Blanco would continue the punishment on the floor to earn a TKO victory.
His opponent Yamada is coming off a unanimous decision loss in his Sengoku featherweight grand prix round-of-16 bout to formidable UK grappler Ronnie Mann (16-2-1) which took place this March at Sengoku 7.
Yamada put up a fight and a compelling ground game ensued but as the fight progressed condition became a factor for him and Mann was able to take control and dictate the action
He now once again has his work cut out for him against the high-octane Blanco come showtime.
Also slated for the card will be three Sengoku gold cup super fights, with the three victors of the Japanese gold cup doing battle with the three winners of the South Korean gold cup.
It pits Ikuo Usuda (5-0) against Woo Hyun Baek (1-0) in a lightweight showdown, in featherweight action Shigeki Osawa (3-0) facing off with Ki Hyun Kim (2-0) and also Ryosuke Komori (4-1) doing battle with Jae Hyun So (2-6) in a bantamweight bout.
Elsewhere on the card former IFL lightweight champion Ryan Schultz (20-11-1) is set to tangle with Kazunori Yokota (9-2-3) in a bout that should project the winner in to title contender status.
Sengoku 10 will feature the first (and last) Elite XC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva (12-1), UFC veteran Joe Doerksen (41-12) and a pair of Olympians in 2000 Olympic Judo gold medalist Makoto Takimoto (5-5) and 2004 Olympic Judo silver medalist Hiroshi Izumi (0-0), who is being targeted for the main event slot for the tenth installment of Sengoku.
However, their opponents will not be announced until a later date.
Here is the current line-up for Sengoku 10:
Antonio Silva (12-1) vs. TBA
Hiroshi Izumi (0-0) vs. TBA
Makoto Takimoto (5-5) vs. TBA
Joe Doerksen (41-12) vs. TBA
Kazunori Yokota (9-2-3) vs. Ryan Schultz (20-11-1)
Maximo Blanco (3-2-1) vs. Tetsuya Yamada (3-1)
Sengoku Gold Cup Lightweight bout:
Ikuo Usuda (5-0) vs. Woo Hyun Baek (1-0)
Sengoku Gold Cup Featherweight bout:
Shigeki Osawa (3-0) vs. Ki Hyun Kim (2-0)
Sengoku Gold Cup Bantamweight bout:
Ryosuke Komori (4-1) vs. Jae Hyun So (2-6)
