After a massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan at approximately 2:45 P.M. local time, Jewels has cancelled “Twelfth Ring.” The event had been scheduled to take place this evening at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, but the country is currently reeling from earthquake damage.
It is currently unknown whether “Twelfth Ring” will be postponed or cancelled outright. Japan is presently under a severe tsunami warning, with threats of an additional large-scale earthquake and powerful aftershocks to follow as well. MMARising.com extends its best wishes to Japan at this time.
A new promotion in Japan, lead by former Pride Fighting Championships president Nobuyuki Sakakibara and vice president Hiroyuki Kato, will hold its first event on April 18th. Dubbed the “Japan Cup,” the event will feature the first and second rounds of an eight-man bantamweight grand prix.
Valkyrie Flyweight Champion Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi will make her Pancrase debut on April 3rd when she takes on promotional veteran “Windy” Tomomi Sunaba. The featured bout will be part of Pancrase Impressive Tour 3 at Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan, and will be contested at 115.5 pounds.
Official weigh-ins were held today at the DEEP Gym for Friday’s Jewels: “Twelfth Ring” card in Tokyo, Japan, and all but one of the 14 fighters who weighed in successfully made weight. The lone exception was England’s Danielle “The Curse” West, who weighed in heavy for her 65kg fight.
Grappling wizard Roger Gracie is expected to make his return to Strikeforce action on June 18th in Dallas, Texas. A current plan is in place for Gracie to take on recently-dethroned former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Gracie has already verbally agreed to the fight.
Former Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman may have finally found her next opponent. The Victoria, British Columbia native is currently in talks to face Japanese veteran Megumi Yabushita in a featured bout at Armageddon Fighting Championship 5: “Judgment Day” on April 2.
On October 28, 2010, Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii suffered the first defeat of her storied mixed martial arts career. That Fujii was able to compete at all in 2010 was a remarkable feat in itself, however, as the Japanese submission ace suffered multiple serious injuries that had her on the verge of retirement.
DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki is expected to make his return to the Strikeforce cage on April 9th against once-beaten prospect Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm. The matchup was first reported by MMA-Japan.com and has since been confirmed by multiple sources.