Capped off by another extremely controversial judging decision, Sengoku: “Eleventh Battle” once again saw underdog Michihiro Omigawa receive a gift on the scorecards in his main event bout with Hatsu Hioki, while Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago was knocked out by Mamed Khalidov in a non-title bout.
In other main card action, highly-touted Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal made short work of former Sengoku Lightweight Champion Satoru Kitaoka, while Kazunori Yokota defeated Eiji Mitsuoka.
Michihiro Omigawa vs Hatsu Hioki
Round 1:
Omigawa looked to set up a power punch early on while Hioki stayed on the outside and jabbed. Two nice right hooks landed to the body for Omigawa and he staggered Hioki with a big right hook. Hioki recovered and scored a takedown, then fought off a guillotine choke. He tried to move to mount, but settled for half-guard. Hioki punched from the top and landed elbows to the ribs.
Hioki continued to strike from half-guard and looked to move to side-control. Omigawa kicked him off and regained guard. The fighters scrambled and Hioki took Omigawa’s back. He tried for a rear naked choke, then transitioned into an extremely impressive armbar. Omigawa stayed in place and defended until the bell. 10-9 Hioki.
Round 2:
Quick punches were exchanged early in round two and Hioki connected with a head kick and a stiff leg kick. The fighters traded body shots and Hioki landed a knee to the face. Kicks were exchanged and Hioki landed another punch to the body. A jumping knee and a head kick scored for Hioki, but Omigawa landed a nice right hook counter. Both fighters threw jabs and Hioki continued to target the body.
The referee warned the fighters for inactivity and Omigawa landed an overhand right. Hioki scored a takedown and moved to half-guard. He punched from the top, but Omigawa got back to guard. Omigawa landed upkicks and hammerfists from the bottom and the fighters stood up. Omigawa pushed forward with punches, but Hioki answered with a jumping knee and a head kick. Closer round. 10-9 Hioki.
Round 3:
Omigawa rushed forward aggressively with punches right away in the final round and Hioki countered with kicks. Omigawa landed a nice combination and a hard left hook. He followed with a right hook and Hioki answered with a one-two and a body shot. Omigawa landed an overhand right and Hioki dove for a sloppy takedown. Big punches were exchanged and both connected. Hioki tried for a takedown and dragged Omigawa to the mat.
Back on the feet, Omigawa clinched and Hioki landed knees until the fighters were separated. Omigawa landed a lunging left hook and backed Hioki into the corner with a right hook to the body. More big punches were thrown and Hioki landed a three-punch flurry. Omigawa countered with a right hook, but ate a kick to the face.
Omigawa defended a takedown and kept pushing forward with punches. A jumping knee landed for Hioki and Omigawa answered with a right hook. Hioki replied with one of his own and Hioki pulled guard with a triangle choke before the bell. Excellent final round and very difficult to score. 10-9 Omigawa.
Two judges somehow gave Omigawa the victory, to which even Omigawa stated that he did not agree with the decision. With Omigawa’s manager as one of the leaders of Sengoku, these questionable decisions are beginning to ruin the promotion’s credibility.
Winner: Michihiro Omigawa by Split Decision after three rounds. He improves to 8-8-1.
Non-Title Bout
Mamed “The Cannibal” Khalidov vs Jorge Santiago
Round 1:
Khalidov opened the fight with a hard leg kick and the fighters circled each other. Santiago threw an overhand right and Khalidov narrowly missed with a spinning back kick. Santiago clinched and scored a takedown. He postured up and landed short punches to the body, then tried to pass to side-control, but Khalidov blasted him with hammerfists from the bottom. A stunned Santiago fell to his back and Khalidov teed off with punches until the referee stopped the fight.
A huge win for Khalidov in the non-title affair, but a monumental loss for Santiago, whose championship belt now means very little.
Winner: Mamed Khalidov by TKO (Hammerfists & Punches) at 2:45 of round one. He improves to 20-3-1.
Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal vs Satoru Kitaoka
Round 1:
Kitaoka immediately shot in for a takedown and Masvidal countered with a guillotine choke against the ropes. Kitaoka escaped the choke and latched onto Masvidal’s leg. He attempted a heel hook, but Masvidal drilled him with punches from the top. Kitaoka maintained his grip on Masvidal’s leg, but ate a series of huge punches for his efforts. Kitaoka locked on the heel hook, but Masvidal managed to spin free and stood up.
More big punches landed for Masvidal as the fight returned to the feet. Kitaoka dragged Masvidal back down and worked from his guard. Masvidal managed to work back to his feet and connected with a big knee-punch-kick combo to the face. Kitaoka dove for a takedown, but Masvidal blasted him with punches. Kitaoka took top position and fought off a tight guillotine choke. Masvidal swept and landed two punches at the bell. Kitaoka had to be helped to his corner. 10-9 Masvidal.
Round 2:
Kitaoka scored a takedown to begin round two, but took a knee to the face in the process. He punched from the top, but the referee stood the fighters up. Kitaoka scored another takedown and Masvidal locked on a guillotine. Kitaoka went for an ankle lock, then an inverted heel hook, but Masvidal spun out and landed a flurry of punches.
From Kitaoka’s guard, Masvidal landed short punches as a badly fatigued Kitaoka tried to strike from the bottom. Back on the feet, Masvidal tripped Kitaoka to the canvas and landed six big punches that put an emphatic end to the fight. Big win for Masvidal.
Winner: Jorge Masvidal by KO (Punches) at 3:03 of round two. He improves to 19-4-0.