World Victory Road "SENGOKU" - Fight Card

[welsh_lad_04]

World Victory Road "SENGOKU"
March 5, 2008
Yoyogi National Gymnasium

Fight Card: - Updated 02/12/08

-Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Josh Barnett
-Kazuo Misaki vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
-Makoto Takimoto vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos
-Takanori Gomi vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig
-Ryo Kawamura vs. Antonio Braga Neto
-Fabricio Monteiro vs. Nick Thompson
-Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter Graham

Scheduled to participate:

[Grabaka]

Two fights have been officially announced for SENGOKU:

-Kazuo Misaki vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
-Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. Makoto Takimoto

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[Grabaka]

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Roger vs Yoshida
“It’s nearly 100% certain,” says Gracie

GRACIEMAG.com went straight to the source to find out what Roger Gracie’s next MMA commitment would be. According to the black belt, the deal is nearly sealed for him to return to the ring against Olympic gold medal winning judoka and former Pride star Hikehiko Yoshida. The battle will take place on March 5th, during an event called Sengoku, overseen by World Victory Road, to take place in Japan.

“I’ve already accepted all the terms, I’m sending the forms back,” said Roger, direct from England. Preparations for the fight have already begun and the final touches will be made in February, in New York. “He’s doing really well, and training a lot,” guarantees his friend Braulio Estima.

The battle with the Olympic judo star will be the second professional MMA fight in the current Jiu-Jitsu black belt absolute world champion’s career. His victorious debut took place in December of 2006, when, at Bodog Fight, Roger submitted the experienced Ron Waterman with an armbar at 3:38 min. Yoshida too has been away from the MMA ring since December of 2006. On the occasion, he was defeated by James Thompson (TKO – punches), at Pride Shockwave 2006.

World Victory Road (WVR) is an organization created in Japan in October of last year, and is being pointed out by many as a possible substitute for Pride in the country. Other fighters being linked to the organization are Sanae Kikura and Makoto Takimoto, who recently beat Murilo Bustamante at Yarennoka.

Stay tuned and soon we will be back with more information regarding Roger Gracie and Sengoku.

[Grabaka]

Looks like you can add Takanori Gomi's name to the scheduled to participate.

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[Grabaka]

More on Gomi to World Victory Road:

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Breaking News: Gomi to World Victory Road
Thursday, January 31, 2008
by Jordan Breen ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

World Victory Road is set to announce the signing of Takanori Gomi (Pictures), a source has confirmed to Sherdog.com.

Gomi, 29, was one of MMA's most prized free agents following the Zuffa buyout of the PRIDE Fighting Championships last year. Gomi has been courted by several promoters in recent months, including K-1 and HERO'S parent company Fight Entertainment Group, as well as UFC and WEC company Zuffa.

While the source could not confirm the length of Gomi's deal with WVR, the deal will see Gomi debut for the promotion on their March 5 Sengoku card at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 1. The Japanese standout will earn approximately $190,000 USD per bout.

WVR reportedly finalized their deal with the former Shooto and PRIDE champion late last week, but were waiting to announce the acquisition in hopes of announcing Gomi's March 5 opponent simultaneously.

Whle the source revealed that Brazilian Rodrigo Damm, as well as the already-signed Fabricio "Pitbull" Monteiro were possible candidates, no opponent has been confirmed and there is no clear candidate for Gomi's opponent.

Gomi has not seen action since last February, where he took on Nick Diaz (Pictures) in a now-infamous bout in Las Vegas. Having lost the acclaimed bout by gogoplata submission in the second round, the bout was later overturned to a No Decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after Diaz tested positive for marijuana.

[ericjones80]

i was just going to post this....signing Gomi is huge for any org.

[Grabaka]

It looks like it won't be Roger Gracie vs. Hidehiko Yoshida after all.

Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Josh Barnett has been officially announced for SENGOKU:

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[valheruking]

Josh should take that, Yoshida/Gracie was a better fight i think, cool that Josh is on the card though.

[Grabaka]

^I can't see any possible way that Yoshida would take it. I agree that Roger/Yoshida would have been a better match. I was very interested in seeing Roger's return to MMA. Josh is my favorite HW though, so it's nice to see him back in action after a long break.

TTT for Welshy to update the card.

[Uber]

Barnett is too big for Yoshida, he should take it easily. It looks to be a good card though. Wonder who Gomi will end up fighting.

[Grabaka]

^The rumor is Rodrigo Damm.

yo Welshy Josh Barnett vs. Hidehiko Yoshida is officially added to the card.

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[Uber]

Damm vs Gomi would be fun. From what I've seen on Bodog I think it was, Damm is a tough dude.

[Grabaka]

Kazuyuki Fujita has officially signed to fight at SENGOKU. An opponent has yet to be named.

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[valheruking]

Maybe he'll fight Sergei?

[Grabaka]

^I thought Sergei is fighting on the March 15 K-1 MMA card?

[Grabaka]

Card Update!!! Takanori Gomi vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig, Ryo Kawamura vs. Antonio Braga Neto, and Fabricio "Pitbull" Monteiro vs. Nick "the GOAT" Thompson have been officially added to the card.


-Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Josh Barnett
-Kazuo Misaki vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
-Makoto Takimoto vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos
-Takanori Gomi vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig
-Ryo Kawamura vs. Antonio Braga Neto
-Fabricio Monteiro vs. Nick Thompson

scheduled to participate:

-Kazuyuki Fujita

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[valheruking]

^I thought Sergei is fighting on the March 15 K-1 MMA card?
Haha yeah, i got mixed up, trying to think of a hw that was free and i changed orgs lol

[Grabaka]

Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter Graham has been officially added to the card.

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[neonatural]

Haha yeah, i got mixed up, trying to think of a hw that was free and i changed orgs lol

I've heard alot about him fighting Monson on the DREAM card, I hope that happens.


This card is a good start, reminds me of one of the early bushido events. Hopefully WVR sticks around for awhile