More "Yarennoka!" Fights Announced

by Robert Sargent

In addition to the already-announced lightweight dream matchups, a middleweight showdown between number nine- and ten-ranked middleweights Kazuo Misaki and Yoshihiro Akiyama has now been confirmed, and Fedor Emelianenko's opponent named.


Fighting & Entertainment Group and the Yarennoka! executive committee announced two additional fights for the upcoming "Yarennoka!" event on New Year's Eve.

Yarennoka! representative Keiichi Sasahara announced that #1-ranked heavyweight, and the top mixed martial artist in the world, Fedor Emelianenko will face 7'3" Korean behemoth Hong Man "Techno Goliath" Choi, and #9-ranked middleweight Kazuo "Grabaka Hitman" Misaki will battle #10-ranked Yoshihiro Akiyama.

Choi is 1-0 in MMA, winning his only mixed martial arts fight in just 16 seconds one year ago. Emelianenko last fought on April 14th, when he defeated Matt "The Law" Lindland in BodogFight in Russia. While the battle may seem like a mismatch, and may turn out to be, Choi is a massive super heavyweight and could most definitely give Emelianenko some serious problems.

Misaki last competed at PRIDE 33, where he was defeated by Frank Trigg. However, Misaki is the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix Champion, and is a very dangerous opponent for Akiyama. He holds victories over Dan Henderson and Denis Kang. Akiyama is coming off of a stunning upset victory over Kang from October 28th at K-1 Olympia HERO's in Korea, where he battered Kang and knocked him out midway through the first round. Akiyama also holds a victory over feared striker Melvin Manhoef.


Also rumoured to be competing on the card, but with no set opponent as of yet, is #10-ranked light heavyweight, and one of the greatest submission grapplers in the world, Ricardo Arona. Arona is coming off of a shocking knockout loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at PRIDE 34 in April, and is looking to make an impact, wherever he winds up competing. It recently appeared as if he may finally debut in the UFC, but his name has been attached to Yarennoka! throughout the week, so it remains to be seen whether he will be participating or not.

#1-ranked lightweight Takanori "Fireball Kid" Gomi does not appear to be participating at "Yarennoka!" despite the best efforts of the event's organisers. Gomi's future remains unclear at this point, but a dominating performance by Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante or Gilbert "El Niņo" Melendez could see Gomi's long-held position atop the lightweight rankings come to an end.

The remainder of the "Yarennoka!" card will likely be announced within the next week.