Sengoku: "Tenth Battle" Results
by Robert Sargent
Showcasing a solid event after their controversial Featherweight Grand Prix, Sengoku: "Tenth Battle" saw "Notorious" Antz Nansen knock out Hiroshi Izumi in a battle of MMA debutants, while Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva submitted "Big" Jim York.
In other action, Makoto Takimoto picked up his second straight victory with a win over Jae Sun Lee and Kazunori Yokota knocked out Ryan "The Lion" Schultz.
"Notorious" Antz Nansen vs Hiroshi Izumi
Making short work of Judo ace Izumi, the street-fighter-turned-kickboxer Nansen picked up his first MMA victory with a two-punch knockout that sent Izumi flying into the corner and shocked the crowd.Nansen opened up the fight with powerful punches right away and mixed in stiff leg kicks. He continued to string together one-twos and leg kicks, but Izumi replied with a hard overhand right. More big punches were exchanged and Nansen landed another leg kick. A right cross from Izumi rocked Nansen's head back, but he taunted Izumi and landed two jabs that created a mouse below Izumi's right eye. Izumi landed a flurry and backed Nansen into the corner. He clinched, but could not score a takedown. Nansen landed a series of single punches that backed Izumi up. He dropped Izumi with a huge right hook, but Izumi got back to his feet. Nansen dropped him again with a left hook to the temple, but Izumi clinched and tried to drag Nansen to the mat. Nansen scrambled back to his feet as a wobbly Izumi backed up. Nansen landed a left-right combination and Izumi crumpled into the corner. Great fight and a shocking debut win for Nansen.
Winner: Antz Nansen by TKO (Punches) at 2:56 of round one. He improves to 1-0-0.
Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva vs "Big" Jim York
Picking up his second victory in Sengoku, Silva took the fight to the ground and trapped York in an arm-triangle choke, which forced a hasty tapout from the native of New Zealand.The fighters exchanged leg kicks in the opening minute and York missed with a lunging left hook. Silva clinched in the corner and scored a takedown. York worked his way back up, but was knocked out of the ring by a knee to the body. The fight was restarted on the feet and both fighters landed stiff jabs. York connected with left and right crosses, but Silva countered with a one-two and clinched. He took York down again and worked from half-guard. Silva landed hammerfists and secured an arm-triangle choke. He passed York's guard and increased pressure on the choke, which forced York to submit. Solid victory for Silva.
Winner: Antonio Silva by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 3:51 of round one. He improves to 13-1-0.
Makoto Takimoto vs Jae Sun Lee
Scoring his second straight victory after nearly retiring at the end of 2008, Takimoto brought his record above the .500 level for the first time since 2007 with a hard-fought decision win.Lee just missed with a head kick in the opening seconds, then attempted a second one soon after. Takimoto clinched and scored a takedown. He landed weak hammerfists from half-guard, then punched the ribs of Lee. A scramble ensued and Takimoto locked on a guillotine choke, but Lee escaped and worked from Takimoto's half-guard. Lee moved to side-control and landed short knee strikes, then passed to mount and rolled into an armbar. Takimoto escaped and evaded a triangle choke. The fight returned to the feet and Lee reversed a takedown. From side-control, he tried for a keylock, then let it go and moved to mount again. Takimoto gave up his back, but spun free and stood up. Back on the feet, Takimoto landed a one-two and a leg kick, then ducked under a haymaker and tossed Lee to the mat with an impressive Judo throw. Good round. 10-9 Lee.
Round two began with a head kick and a leg kick from Lee, but Takimoto tagged him with a left cross and tripped him to the mat. Lee stood up and Takimoto landed a trio of punches. Lee continued to score with a variety of kicks, but Takimoto took him down again. Lee got up and tried for a takedown, but wound up in a guillotine choke. Lee escaped and moved to side-control, then passed to mount. Takimoto kicked him off and Lee stood up. He dove into Takimoto's half-guard and landed three solid punches, then stood up again and stomped the ribs of Takimoto. From side-control, Lee landed knees to the body. Takimoto battled back to his feet and connected with a flurry of punches, then clinched. He tripped Lee to the mat, but Lee quickly reversed. Takimoto swept and punched from the top, then blasted Lee with a series of knees. Lee stood up and was met with more punches and a flying knee. Very close round, but Takimoto just barely stole it at the end. 10-9 Takimoto.
Takimoto connected with punching flurries early in round three and Lee answered with leg kicks. Takimoto scored a brief takedown, then took Lee down a second time. He landed weak punches from the top, but Lee reversed. Seconds later, Takimoto swept and punched from half-guard. Takimoto landed short punches from the top and Lee answered with his own from the bottom. Takimoto postured up and scrambled out of a heel hook. Lee landed a two-kick combo and Takimoto clinched in the corner. The fighters were separated and Lee pushed forward with punches. Takimoto clinched and scored a trip takedown. From half-guard, Takimoto landed weak punches and hammerfists with his free hand and tried to pass to mount before the final bell. 10-9 Takimoto.
The judges sided with Takimoto, who took a close but deserved decision.
Winner: Makoto Takimoto by Unanimous Decision (30-28, 30-29, 30-30 [Must Decision - Takimoto]) after three rounds. He improves to 6-5-0.
Kazunori Yokota vs Ryan "The Lion" Schultz
Taking one step closer to a Sengoku Lightweight Championship bout against Mizuto Hirota, whom he previously defeated at "Sixth Battle," Yokota brutally knocked out final IFL Lightweight Champion Schultz with a vicious right hook midway through round one.Yokota opened up with a leg kick and a front kick to the body. Schultz answered with kicks of his own and Yokota looked to land a haymaker. Schultz connected with an overhand right and Yokota landed a left hook counter. Schultz shot in for a takedown and managed to get it, but Yokota grabbed the ropes along the way. The referee called time to warn Yokota for the rope grab, but restarted the action on the feet. That proved deadly for Schultz, as 30 seconds later, Yokota connected with a looping right hook that knocked Schultz out cold. Yokota landed a left hook as Schultz fell and more hammerfists on the ground, but it was the first punch that did the damage. Vicious knockout win for Yokota, but Schultz was reported as being okay later on after he was taken to hospital for observations.
Winner: Kazunori Yokota by KO (Punch) at 2:31 of round one. He improves to 10-2-3.
Fabio Silva vs Ryo Kawamura
This rematch did not go any better for Kawamura than the pair's first meeting in 2007, as Silva once again stopped Kawamura with punches, but needed less than half a round to do it the second time around.Kawamura landed quick jabs to begin the fight and Silva answered with a leg kick. A solid body shot scored for Kawamura, but Silva drilled him with two flurries of hard punches. Kawamura clinched and tried for a takedown. A stalemate ensued and the referee separated the fighters. Silva teed off with punches and knees from a Thai clinch and Kawamura once again looked for a takedown. It was Silva who took him down, however, and he briefly took Kawamura's back as Kawamura worked back to his feet. The fighters clinched and Silva dropped Kawamura with a quick flurry of punches. Kawamura got up, but was sent to the mat by a right hook. He stood up again and Silva dropped him a third time with a one-two that drew blood from Kawamura's nose. Kawamura's corner threw in the towel and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Fabio Silva by TKO (Corner Stoppage [Towel] - Punches) at 2:28 of round one. He improves to 12-5-0.
Dan "The Handler" Hornbuckle vs Nick "The Goat" Thompson
Following up his brutal head-kick knockout of Akihiro Gono with another impressive victory, Hornbuckle put himself in line to compete for a welterweight title in Sengoku with a second-round stoppage of the ever-tough Thompson.Hornbuckle landed a body kick early on and clinched. He took Thompson's back while standing and slammed him to the mat. Thompson locked on a Kimura from the bottom and turned it into a straight armbar, but Hornbuckle survived and worked for a rear naked choke. A scramble followed and Hornbuckle landed a knee as Thompson fell to his back again. Hornbuckle threw short strikes from half-guard, then stood up. The fight returned to the feet and Hornbuckle landed a one-two. He followed up with a stiff jab and both fighters landed flurries. Two big left crosses backed Thompson into the corner. Hornbuckle followed with an uppercut and a quick flurry as Thompson tried to secure a Thai clinch. A liver kick and a jumping knee to the body scored for Hornbuckle before the bell. 10-9 Hornbuckle.
Two three-punch combinations found the mark for Hornbuckle to begin round two and a cut was opened above Thompson's right eye. Hornbuckle landed a body kick and a left cross. The fighters exchanged punches and the referee called time to check Thompson's cut. Action resumed and Hornbuckle landed more body kicks. Both fighters landed punches and Hornbuckle rocked Thompson with a left cross and two right hooks to the temple. Thompson staggered to the ropes and Hornbuckle finished the fight with more punches and a knee. Very impressive win for Hornbuckle, who continues his rapid ascent up the welterweight ranks.
Winner: Dan Hornbuckle by TKO (Punches & Knee) at 1:30 of round two. He improves to 19-2-0.
Joe "El Dirte" Doerksen vs Takenori Sato
Winning for the fourth time in a row since being cut from the UFC, Doerksen badly rocked Sato in the early stages of round one and put the fight away late in the second stanza.The fighters circled each other in the opening minute and looked to find their range with jabs and quick kicks. Doerksen dropped Sato with a one-two against the ropes, but Sato managed to hold on. Doerksen landed hammerfists and punches from the top, but Sato stood up and tried for a takedown. Doerksen reversed and worked from the top, but Sato swept him. Doerksen attempted an armbar from the bottom and Sato picked him up. Back on the ground, Doerksen reversed again and punched from half-guard. Sato stood up and Doerksen took his back. Doerksen dragged him to the mat, but Sato spun and took top position. Sato threw weak strikes from the top and Doerksen tried for an armbar. The fight returned to the feet and Doerksen scored with a right hook. Sato took Doerksen down with a Judo throw, but Doerksen reversed and took his back. Doerksen landed punches and fought off a guillotine choke at the bell. 10-9 Doerksen.
An exchange of head kicks opened round two and Doerksen sent Sato to the mat with a kick to the ribs. Sato took top position, but the fight quickly returned to the feet. Doerksen landed a one-two and stuffed a takedown. Sato pulled guard with a guillotine choke, but Doerksen passed to half-guard and fought off the choke. Doerksen moved to mount and Sato immediately swept. Sato punched from the top and tried to take Doerksen's back in a scramble. Sato wound up on the bottom and Doerksen punched from half-guard. Doerksen was about to pass to mount again, but the referee stood the fighters up and warned both for inactivity. Both fighters threw haymaker punches after the restart, but Sato missed and Doerksen connected squarely with five big shots. Sato fell to the ground and turtled. Doerksen landed more punches until the fight was stopped. Solid win for Doerksen.
Winner: Joe Doerksen by TKO (Punches) at 4:27 of round two. He improves to 43-12-0.
Maximo "Maxi" Blanco vs Tetsuya "Super High School Student" Yamada
Picking up his second victory in Sengoku, Blanco punished Yamada on the ground in round two and finished the fight with a series of punches to the body.Blanco knocked Yamada down with a counterpunch, but Yamada quickly took Blanco's back on the ground. He transitioned into an armbar, but Blanco used the opportunity to take top position. Yamada used rubber guard to prevent Blanco from posturing up, but Blanco escaped and stood up. Yamada landed a body kick and just missed with a head kick. He dropped down for a heel hook, but Blanco stepped free. Blanco punched the ribs of Yamada and Yamada stood up. He tried to take Blanco's back and dropped down for another leg submission, but was unsuccessful. Yamada then went for a flying scissor heel hook, but Blanco evaded and punched from the top. Blanco postured up and landed more effective punches, but had to fight off an armbar from Yamada. Blanco landed weak hammerfists until the close round came to an end. 10-9 Blanco.
Yamada fell after a left cross from Blanco in the opening seconds of round two and Blanco immediately dove in with hard punches on the ground. Yamada regained guard and tried for an armbar, but Blanco stood up and attempted a stomp. More punches landed for Blanco and he bloodied Yamada's nose. Yamada turned and put his head outside of the ring ropes. Blanco landed a knee to Yamada's rear end, then flurried with punches to the body until the referee waved off the fight. Strange ending, but a good win for Blanco.
Winner: Maximo Blanco by TKO (Punches To The Body) at 1:12 of round two. He improves to 4-2-1, 1 NC.
Undercard Fights:
Ikuo Usuda defeated Woo Hyon Baek by TKO (Punches) at 4:59 of round one. He improves to 6-0-0.Shigeki Osawa defeated Ki Hyun Kim by Unanimous Decision (20-18, 20-19, 20-19) after two rounds. He improves to 4-0-0.
Jae Hyun So defeated Ryosuke Komori by Unanimous Decision (20-17, 20-18, 20-18) after two rounds. He improves to 3-6-0.
During the event, it was announced that the promotion would be adopting the new moniker "Sengoku Raiden Championship" beginning on New Year's Eve when Sengoku goes head-to-head with K-1 Dynamite!! 2009. The debut SRC show will feature the long-awaited debut of Judo gold medallist Satoshi Ishii.
