Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Yesterday in Romania at the WAKO Pro World Grand Prix semi finals, Andrei Stoica met Jovan Kaludjerovic, a Serbian fighter at a weight of 94.1kg (207 lbs). Stoica is regarded as one of the top fighters in the weight range from 85-95kg. He beat another one of the top fighters in this weight range, Henriques Zowa in July and lost to Redouan Cairo in April. This alone just shows what a mess the 85-95kg range in kickboxing is.

No one expected Stoica to lose yesterday though. Kaludjerovic was an unknown for the most part and Stoica had a good showing in his win over Henriques Zowa. Stoica looked to be in control of the fight until he got caught with a crisp counter left hook, putting him on the canvas. Stoica looked very wobbly on his feet when he got up and Kaludjerovic swarmed the Romanian fighter. After a second count from the referee, this one a standing count, Stoica's corner threw in the towel.

This result just adds to the mess of 85-95kg. A new face in Kaludjerovic is thrown into the mix while an established name takes a step back. It'll be interesting to see what opportunities Kaludjerovic will get after this big win.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Today at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Saenchai Sinbimuaythai took on Petboonchu F.A. Group for the fifth time.  In the four prior meetings, Saenchai had three wins, while Petboonchu had one that came on June 4th of last year. The two were ranked in the top two at Lumpinee stadium, right below current champion Sagetdao Phetphayathai.

Saenchai took a unanimous decision over five rounds, with the scores being 49-47 across the board. Saenchai's effort was hailed as a "classic performance" by Rob Cox of muaythaifocus.com. The win moves Saenchai to 4-1 against Petboonchu. Saenchai's lone loss this year came to Sagetdao Phetphayathai and I'm sure he would like to get that back.

It's unknown what is next for Saenchai. He's still scheduled to fight for Yokkao Boxing in Italy in January. I'd expect to see him fight once or twice before then, whether it be abroad or in Thailand.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

At It's Showtime Japan 3/M-1 Fairtex Challenge Raorak Muay Vol.3 on September 11th, WBC Japan Super Bantamweight champion and M-1 Featherweight champion Genji Umeno knocked out Thai Wutidej Lookprabaht in the 4th round. Umeno used elbows to open up Wutidej which led to a 3 punch combo that set up the final uppercut-elbow combination that put Wutidej out. The win will likely get Umeno a fight with current WPMF Featherweight champion Yosuke Morii. It also puts Umeno in a good position with Lumpinee Stadium as Wutidej was ranked 5th at Feathweight which recently got a new champion, Penaik Sitnumnoi. At just 22, Umeno has solidified himself as one of the top featherweights in Japan and extends his current win streak to 8. I also expect Umeno to defend his WBC title against the winner of October's Ryuya Kusakabe-Rookie matchup in January. He holds a previous victory over Rookie and a matchup with Kusakabe would be a highly entertaining fight between two young, promising fighters.

In the co-main event, the aforementioned Yosuke Morii was able to defeat former WBO Featherweight boxing champion Ratanchai Sor Vorapin by first round knockout. I believe that M-1 was more or less setting up a fight between Morii and Umeno were they to win their bouts as they set up a small Featherweight tournament with these two fights. The next It's Showtime Japan/M-1 event is on November 13th, so that fight could take place then.

#2 ranked WPMF Featherweight Daiki Nagashima picked up a majority decision win and could get a shot at the winner of Umeno vs Morii some time in the future. Up next for Nagashima will likely be a title fight against current J-NETWORK Featherweight champ Masato Sato.

Former It's Showtime 61kg champion Sergio Wielzen was set to face off against Kanongsuk Weerasakreck, but one of them missed weight and the bout was changed to an exhibition.

At Korakuen Hall on September 10th, former Rajadamnern Stadium champion and Shootboxing convert Bovy Sor Udomson put a halt to Toby Imada's Shootboxing run by taking a unanimous decision over the Bellator fighter on scores of 28-26(x3). Imada scored a first round knockdown on Bovy, but Bovy answered back with a down in each round. Imada's incredible run in Shootboxing began at last year's S-Cup where he was a late replacement for Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett. Imada upset Shootboxing standout Takaaki Umeno, knocking him out at the end of the 3rd round. Then, in the semifinals, Imada pulled a huge upset by defeating 2-time K-1 MAX champion and 3-time Shootboxing S-Cup champion Andy Souwer by split decision. Imada was TKO'd by Buakaw Por Pramuk in the finals of the tournament, but returned to Shootboxing in June, scoring yet another upset over Shootboxing mainstay Hiroki Shishido. For Bovy, the win stops a 5-fight losing streak and is his first win in Shootboxing in nearly a year and a half.

In the co-main event, Shootboxing superstar RENA was upset by former Bellator fighter Jessica Penne by majority decision in the second extension round. The fight was a majority draw after 3 rounds and couldn't be decided in the first extension round as the judges scored it a split draw. According to Dan Herbertson, RENA controlled rounds 1 and 3, but Penne scored a shoot point in round 2 to send it to the extension round. RENA apparently controlled the extension round as well over a tired Penne, but did not get help from the judges who sent it to a 5th round where Penne scored another shoot point to lock up the win. The loss is a huge disappointment for RENA who was coming off of a dominating win over Zaza Sor Aree and was getting ready for her fight with Erika Kamimura on November 23rd.

In a match for the vacant Super Welterweight championship, former boxer and #2 ranked Satoru Suzuki scored 3 knockdowns on #1 ranked Kenji Kanai, forcing a referee's stoppage and netting Suzuki the Shootboxing title.

Sengoku fighter Shigeki Osawa was also victorious at the event, taking his first win in Shootboxing, an upset over J-NETWORK Super Lightweight champion Yusuke Sugawara. Osawa used his grappling to score shoot points and secure the victory.

RENA's younger sister MIO picked up her second straight win under the Shootboxing banner, taking a unanimous decision win.

Also at the event, 55kg champion Ryuya Kusakabe vacated his title, likely to focus on fighting in Krush and with WBC Japan.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Yesterday in Basel, Switzerland, Super Pro held a night of fights that featured a 4-man tournament. Among the participants were Rachid Belaini, Miodrag Olar, Philippe Salmon and Shemsi Beqiri. French fighter Farid Villaume was originally scheduled to face Shemsi Beqiri in the semi-finals but Salmon took his place.

Rachid Belaini and Miodrag Olar met in the semi-finals, with Belaini advancing. Shemsi Beqiri and Philippe Salmon faced off on the other side of the bracket, with Beqiri advancing to the final with a decision. Beqiri took a decision over Belaini in the final to win the tournament and a prize of 20 000 Euros. That's quite a big purse for kickboxing, equivalent to $27 341 in American dollars.

The tournament was Beqiri's first time fighting since January, where he lost a somewhat controversial decision to Yoshihiro Sato in Japan. I myself thought that it should've gone to an extra round. It's unusual for Beqiri to fight this little, as last year he fought twelve times. Beqiri is a solid fighter, and at only 25 years of age still has a lot ahead of him for his kickboxing career.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Today at Lumpinee Stadium the Super featherweight champ and current fighter of the year Kongsak Sitboonmee lost his crown to F16 Rajanont. Just last month the two met with Kongsak taking home a razor thin points win. The fight was so close that promotors booked an immediate rematch, and this time around things went F16's way as he took home a five round decision. 

The other title that changed hands was at 115 pounds. Knockout artist Chokprecha Kor. Sakooncher was bested by Wanchalong Sitzornong. This was also a rematch of a fight that took place in the past few months, Wanchalong won that fight too. This time however it was at 115 pounds where the previous bout was over the weight limit. 

Sagetdao Petpaiyathai however did not let his title go over to Singdam Kiatmuu9. The two have fought several times previously with both picking up wins. This time the current 135 pound champ got the best of the hard kicking veteran. 

In other results, Featherweight has its first champion since Kongsak Sitboonmee vacated. Penaik Sitnumnoi beat Mongkolchai Petsupapaan over five rounds. Nong-O Kaiyanghadaogym appears to be back as a top fighter. After winning a 1 day, 8 man marathon tournament last month he followed it up with a fourth round knockout of top 5 contender Sitisak Siangsimaewgym. 

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

It is hard for me to even type out that Buakaw Por. Pramuk, K-1 MAX superstar who made his name in Japan has won a bout on American soil, but it happened last night. Sadly after not one but two reporter situations left us out in left field, we had to catch the event like the rest of the world did, and the event saw a lot of big names on the worldwide scene make a splash, a bang and no real whimpers. That is a godsend for a debut show, especially in a tough United States market for kickfighting.

The event saw not only Buakaw pick up a win, but Nathan "Carnage" Corbett, Artem "The Lion" Levin, Nieky Holzken and Baxter Humby also won in impressive fashion.

Full event results from Muay Thai Authority.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

In the main event of the second It's Showtime Japan event, former AJKF Featherweight champion and 2009 Krush Lightweight tournament champion Masahiro Yamamoto defeated WPMF Japan Lightweight champion Arito Tsukahara by majority decision on scores of 30-29(x2), 30-27, 30-28 and 29-29 to make him #1 contender for the It's Showtime 61kg title. Yamamoto is now second in line behind Kan Itabashi to face It's Showtime champion Javier Hernandez and with a matchup between Kanongsuk Weerasakreck and former It's Showtime champion Sergio Wielzen at the next It's Showtime event, there should not be a shortage of quality opposition for the champion. The win is the first for Yamamoto in his last 5 fights and the first since being upset in the qualifying round of the first K-1 63kg GP by Tetsuya Yamato. This fight seemed to be a must win for the former Japanese Lightweight kingpin who had looked less than stellar since the Krush Lightweight GP. On the night of Hisanori Maeda's retirement, Yamamoto took one for AJKF.

In the co-main event WPMF Japan Bantamweight champion Ichinohe Sota and MA Kick Bantamweight champion Takuma Ito fought to a split draw on scores of 49-48, 49-49 and 48-49. This is a bit of a mild upset as Sota was the WPMF champion and was probably next in line for the J-NETWORK Super Bantamweight title that's being unified on October 16th.

WPMF Japan Super Welterweight champion Takeshi Shimizu won a 3 round decision against Techakarin Chuwattana(?) on scores of 30-28(x2) and 29-28.

Former AJKF Featherweight champion Hisanori Maeda held his retirement ceremony at the event.

In a match that could determine Ichinohe Sota's next challenger, #1 ranked WPMF Japan Bantamweight Noro Yuki defeated #4 ranked Jun Miyoshi by unanimous decision with all 3 judges scoring it 30-27. Yuki could be next in line to fight Sota, though Takuma Ito may want a rematch and #2 ranked Nobuchiko Terado could make a case for a title shot as well.

Finally, in a WPMF title match, defending WPMF Japan Women's Atom Weight champion Little Tiger lost a 5 round decision to NJKF Atom Weight champion Chiharu on scores of 50-48, 50-47 and 49-48 to make Chiharu the new WPMF Japan champion. Chiharu lost to Erika Kamimura at Sengoku: Soul of Fight by 2nd round TKO but has put together 4 straight wins since then.

The next It's Showtime Japan event is a co-promotion with M-1 Muay Thai and is headlined by a 61kg bout between Kanongsuk Weerasakreck and Sergio Wielzen. Also on the card are WBC Japan Super Bantamweight champion Genji Umeno taking on Utideto Rukupurabato(?) and WPMF Japan Featherweight champion Yosuke Morii taking on former WBO Boxing Champion Ratanchai Sor Vorapin.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Yesterday in Paramaribo, Suriname, the Dutch promotion SLAMM!! held an event featuring an 8-man, one night tournament that included some of the top young, upcoming fighters in the sport. Also featured on the card was rising heavyweight star, Ismael Londt. Many Dutch fighters are originally from or their backgrounds are from Suriname and SLAMM!! has held events their before. As per usual, Team SLAMM!! fighters were featured heavily on the event, with Ajay Balgobind, Anthony Kane and Ismael Londt among others.

The quarter finals of the tournament kicked off with four fights at -70kg, and all went to decision.

Miles Simson vs. Ajay Balgobind

Ajay Balgobind won by decision.

Antoine Mandela vs. Alessandro Campagna

Alessandro Campagna won by decision.

Xavier Benedito vs. Miloud el Geubli

Miloud el Geubli won by decision.

Anthony Kane vs. Cedric Bacuna

Anthony Kane won by decision.

With four men advancing after the quarter finals, it set up the semi finals with Ajay Balgobind vs. Alessandro Campagna and Miloud el Geubli vs. Anthony Kane. Once again, both fights went to decision.

Ajay Balgobind vs. Alessandro Campagna

Alessandro Campagna won by decision.

Anthony Kane vs. Miloud el Geubli

Miloud el Geubli won by decision.

This set up Alessandro Campagna vs. Miloud el Geubli in the finals. This was the only fight to not go to decision in the tournament.

Alessandro Campagna vs. Miloud el Geubli

Alessandro Campagna won by TKO in Round 1 and wins the tournament. Campagna, with this tournament win has shown himself to be an up and coming fighter to keep an eye on. Campagna raised some eyebrows in October of last year when he knocked Houcine Bennoui out in the first round.

Also on the card, Ismael Londt took on fellow Dutch fighter Raemon Welboeren. In an unusual scenario for Londt, he didn't walk away with a knock out win but still managed to get a decision. Londt has been on a tear this year, holding wins over Tomas Hron, Sebastien Ciobanu and Mladen Brestovac. I think it might be time for Londt to take a step up into big time competition soon. Another Dutch heavyweight, Jairzinho Rozenstruik also walked away with a win, this one by TKO over Jahya "Godzilla" Gulay.

The event was supposed to be stream on SLAMM!!'s website, but never did. We don't know what happened, but we expect videos to be up on FightStarTV in the near future.

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Earlier today at Korakuen Hall, J-Network put on an event that featured 3 titles up for grab, with Masato Sato defending his Featherweight title against Hideya Nagasaki, Akihiro Kuroda defending his Lightweight title against Fire Harada and Yuki and Shuichi Uentsu battling for the recently vacated Super Flyweight title.

In the main event of the night, fan favorite Fire Harada challenged champion Akihiro Kuroda for the J-Network Lightweight title, losing via TKO as a result of leg kicks at 1:42 of the 3rd round. Kuroda was coming off of back to back losses with the most recent being a decision loss to HIROYA in May. This marks his third defense and his next opponent could be current #2 ranked Junpei Aotsu who is 0-1-1 against Kuroda, with their last fight being a unification bout for the J-Network title. Aotsu is coming off of a split decision extension round loss to TURBΦ at Krush 11.

In the co-feature, #2 ranked Yuki faced #1 ranked Shuichi Uentsu for the Super Flyweight title recently vacated by TO-MA. In a close fight, Yuki managed to take a majority decision on scores of 49-48(x2) and 48-48. Uentsu was coming off of back to back decision losses to TO-MA, the first of which was for the J-Network Super Flyweight title while the second was for the WPMF Japan Super Flyweight championship and this extends his losing streak to 3 fights.

In the final title bout of the night, Featherweight Champion Masato Sato defended his title for the second time with a 1st round TKO stoppage of M-1 Super Featherweight Champion Hideya Nagasaki. Sato's next defense could be against current #1 ranked Hiroki Nagashima who is currently scheduled to fight at the M-1/It's Showtime Japan show on September 11th.

Results via Boutreview

Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:20

Earlier today at Shibuya AX, Shootboxing held its first all womens event of the year with the main attraction being the Girls S-Cup Japan Preliminary Tournament.

In the first round of the tournament, WPMF and WMC World Mini Flyweight Champion and "The Strongest Female High School Student" Erika Kamimura defeated Kanako Oka by knockout 31 seconds into the second round. To determine her opponent, MMA fighter WINDY Tomomi fell to fellow MMA fighter Miyo Yoshida by majority decision on scores of 30-30 and 30-29(x2). In the other half of the bracket, 2009 Girls S-Cup finalist V.V Mei was upset by J-Girls #3 ranked MINA after 3 rounds on scores of 30-30, 30-29 and 29-28. To wrap up the quarterfinals, MMA fighter and kickboxer Seo Hee Ham was able to pick up a majority decision over MMA fighter Emi Fujino on scores of 30-30, 30-29 and 30-28.

In the semifinals, Erika Kamimura struck quick, dispatching Miyo Yoshida by TKO just 50 seconds into the first round, sending Kamimura to the finals. In the other semifinal, Seo Hee Ham won another majority decision over MINA on scores of 30-30, 30-29 and 29-28 to set up the final that most people had expected coming into the tournament.

In the finals, Kamimura and Ham supposedly put on an entertaining fight, with Kamimura scoring a catch point on an attempted arm-triangle in the first, while Ham scored two shoot points from throws in the second. However, Kamimura was able to score a right hook that knocked down Ham in the third, which ended up being the difference in the bout as Kamimura took a unanimous decision on scores of 28-26 and 28-27(x2). The win brings the 18 year old to 22-1 with 11 TKOs and qualifies her for the next Girls S-Cup.

In non-tournament action, RENA got back to winning by knocking out "Muay Thai Idol" Zaza Sor Aree at 2:10 of the second round on a body shot. After winning back to back S-Cups, RENA was knocked down by Kamimura in an exhibition bout, then was outlasted by Ai Takahashi over five rounds, giving Takahashi the Shootboxing Mini Flyweight Championship.

Supposedly, a rematch of the exhibition bout between RENA and Kamimura has been scheduled for the November 23rd RISE event as a legitimate bout and not an exhibition. If true, expect the winner to get a shot at Ai Takahashi, as she was forced to pull out of a bout with Kamimura that was scheduled for today's event due to a fractured orbital bone.

Also in non-tournament action was RENA's younger sister MIO making her professional debut against an arm wrestling champion. MIO won by disqualification 1:52 into the first round.

Finally, notable MMA fighter HIROKO defeated Megumi Yabushita by TKO 3 seconds into the 3rd round. A matchup under MMA rules between HIROKO and Rin Nakai, who is returning on September 4th's Pancrase event, would generate a good amount of interest as the two have had trouble finding legitimate competition at a higher weight in Japan.