World Victory Road "Sengoku IV" Results
by Robert Sargent
Continuing to impress, World Victory Road showcased the beginning of their debut Lightweight Grand Prix at "Sengoku IV" on a night that concluded with Japanese superstar Takanori "Fireball Kid" Gomi narrowly escaping with a decision victory.
Earlier in the night, final IFL Lightweight Champion Ryan "The Lion" Schultz was knocked out of the Grand Prix by a Superman Punch from multi-promotion champion Mizuto Hirota.
Takanori "Fireball Kid" Gomi vs Seung Hwan Bang
Widely expected to cruise through the fight without issue, Gomi faced numerous problems in this bout, as Bang actually outstruck his power-punching opponent for most of the first round before Gomi's vicious leg kicks began to take their toll.Bang used a smart strategy in the first round, keeping his distance from Gomi and landing jabs and straight punches that prevented Gomi from mounting much offence. Bang's combinations repeatedly threw Gomi's timing off, and it seemed as if Bang was going to outstrike Gomi, who is arguably the most talented Japanese striker in the sport. However, late in round one, Gomi's hard kicks to the legs of Bang began to limit Bang's ability to move. Seeing this, Gomi began to land strikes at will, but did not seem to do enough to steal back the round.
Round two was much different, as Gomi's leg kicks had all but stopped Bang's side-to-side movement. Bang could no longer keep his distance from Gomi and was forced to throw punches while retreating. Gomi mixed in punches and continued to punish Bang with kicks to the legs, eventually stopping Bang's movement almost entirely. The striking was dictated by Gomi for the remainder of the round, and he easily took round two.
Bang seemed to be somewhat rejuvenated in round three; once again picking his shots with punches and actually winning a wild punching exchange with Gomi by landing a hard right hook. However, Gomi went right back to low kicks and Bang was suddenly forced to retreat and throw counterpunches once again. This continued for most of the round, and Gomi landed solid punches shortly before the bell that opened up a cut above Bang's eye.
While it was hardly an impressive performance for Gomi, he did enough to walk away with the victory. For Bang, one of Korea's top young prospects who already holds the DEEP Lightweight Championship, showing that he could outstrike Gomi - at least for a while - will surely see his stock rise considerably.
Winner: Takanori Gomi by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 29-3-0, 1 ND.
WVR Lightweight Grand Prix Bouts
Satoru Kitaoka vs Clay French
Kitaoka displayed similar submission mastery to his Nippon Top Team peers Shinya Aoki and Mazakazu Imanari in this bout, capitalising on an opportunity to grab hold of an ankle lock - no doubt to the glee of Imanari - and force French to quickly submit.French, the reigning King of the Cage Lightweight Champion, defended a takedown attempt from Kitaoka in the opening seconds, but left his leg vulnerable. Kitaoka, working with the undisputed king of leg submissions, Imanari, wasted no time in seizing his chance and locked onto French's leg. Transitioning into an Achilles Lock, Kitaoka forced French to submit just 31 seconds into the bout and ended French's eight-fight winning streak in the process.
With the highly impressive victory, Kitaoka must be looked upon as an early favourite to win the Grand Prix.
Winner: Satoru Kitaoka by Submission (Achilles Lock) at 0:31 of round one. He improves to 21-8-9 and advances in the World Victory Road Lightweight Grand Prix.
Eiji Mitsuoka vs Rodrigo Damm
Having already defeated reigning DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim Hansen less than a year ago, Mitsuoka continued his dramatic rise to prominence by ending the eight-fight winning streak of Damm in convincing fashion.Damm scored a takedown early in round one, but was unable to lock on any submissions and Mitsuoka got back to his feet. Damm decided to strike, perhaps with greater confidence after a TKO victory over noted striker Jorge Masvidal in his previous bout, and managed to land some solid punches and a flashy high kick. However, Mitsuoka drilled him with a looping overhand right that sent Damm to the mat. Mitsuoka quickly took Damm's back and locked in a fight-ending rear naked choke to advance in the tournament.
Winner: Eiji Mitsuoka by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:13 of round one. He improves to 14-5-2 and advances in the World Victory Road Lightweight Grand Prix.
Mizuto Hirota vs Ryan "The Lion" Schultz
In this battle of champions, Hirota, an All-Japan Shooto Champion, Shooto Rookie Champion and Cage Force Lightweight Champion, knocked out the tournament's early favourite and final IFL Lightweight Champion, Schultz, with a Superman Punch late in the second round.Schultz, as expected, dominated the first round in striking and with takedowns. He used superior movement to land punches to the head and body, while Hirota swung wildly for a knockout punch. Schultz then took the fight to the mat, scoring repeated takedowns, but was unable to finish the fight on the ground. Hirota once again tried unsuccessfully for one-punch knockouts, but Schultz's technical edge in striking allowed him to evade danger and easily take round one.
Round two was essentially a carbon copy of the first round until the final minute. Schultz once again held a decided advantage in striking and scored more takedowns. Hirota seemed to be unable to do much of anything to combat Schultz's wrestling. However, in the final minute, Hirota landed a stiff jab and followed it up with a leaping Superman Punch that drilled Schultz in the temple. Schultz crumpled to the mat and was knocked out cold by a series of follow-up hammerfist strikes.
A shocking victory for Hirota, who moves on in the tournament.
Winner: Mizuto Hirota by KO (Superman Punch & Hammerfists) at 4:25 of round two. He improves to 10-2-0 and advances in the World Victory Road Lightweight Grand Prix.
Kazunori Yokota vs Bojan "Zelva" Kosednar
In a fight marred by Yellow Cards for robe grabbing and low blows, Yokota, the former DEEP Lightweight Champion, managed to do enough to emerge with a close and unimpressive victory.Kosednar tried unsuccessfully for takedowns throughout the first round, and was eventually taken down himself. From the bottom, Kosednar could do nothing but hold on as Yokota controlled the fight. This process eventually earned Kosednar a Yellow Card for holding, and he was given a second Yellow Card for holding the ropes later in the fight.
Yokota, despite getting a Yellow Card for a hard low blow, managed to do enough to appease the judges with takedowns and a series of stinging rights throughout rounds two and three. He moves on in the tournament, albeit in rather poor fashion.
Winner: Kazunori Yokota by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 7-1-3 and advances in the World Victory Road Lightweight Grand Prix.
Undercard Fights:
Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg managed to outwrestle Olympic Judo gold medallist Makoto Takimoto, scoring takedowns and dominating the sparse striking exchanges en route to a clear-cut decision. Trigg wins by Unanimous Decision after three rounds and improves to 17-6-0.Dong Yi Yang defeated PRIDE veteran Pawel Nastula in an incredibly bizarre fight that saw Yang penalised with a Yellow Card for a hard low blow in round one and then awarded the fight for no apparent reason in round two after Nastula indicated a problem with his cup. Rather than giving Nastula time to recover, the referee stopped the fight and awarded Yang with a puzzling TKO victory. Yang wins by TKO (Referee Stoppage) at 2:15 of round two and improves to 3-0-0.
Moise Rimbon prevented K-1 star Peter Graham from getting his first MMA victory, giving Graham his second loss with a rear naked choke early in round two. Rimbon wins by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 0:42 of round two and improves to 13-7-3.
Valentijn Overeem, older brother of current DREAM and Strikeforce star Alistair Overeem, won a battle of veterans against Yoshiki Takahashi with a flying knee in the middle of round one. Overeem wins by KO (Flying Knee) at 2:42 of round one and improves to 26-22-0.
Despite Takanori Gomi's lacklustre performance in the event's final bout, "Sengoku IV" continued World Victory Road's steady climb to prominence in Japan and featured a number of exciting tournament battles.
