“The Japanese Sensation” Akihiro Gono vs “The Snake Eater” Yoon Young Kim

Round 1:
Kim used jabs early on to back Gono up, but Gono fired back with two hard leg kicks. Kim scored with a pair of one-twos and Gono answered with a kick and a left hook. Gono used kicks to the legs and body to keep Kim out of range as Kim continued to miss with combinations. More kicks followed from Gono and Kim managed to land one jab.

Kim backed Gono into the corner and the fighters traded strikes. Gono landed two quick kicks and a one-two to the body. Kim answered with a combination and Gono landed more kicks, then a knee in a clinch. Kim pulled guard and tried for a Kimura from his back. Little transpired until the bell. 10-9 Gono.

Round 2:
A stiff leg kick from Gono opened round two, but Kim answered with a quick two-punch combination to the body. More strikes were exchanged and Gono scored a takedown. Kim looked for an armbar from the bottom, but Gono easily evaded danger and landed a handful of punches. Kim tried for a Kimura and Gono powered out again.

Kim worked for a triangle choke from the bottom and Gono used the opportunity to pass to half-guard. He landed weak punches and Kim regained guard. Gono moved back to half-guard, but did very little aside from controlling position. Gono landed a knee and passed to side-control, then landed two more knees. Back on the feet, Kim landed a one-two and a kick. 10-9 Gono by the slimmest of margins.

Round 3:
Kim landed a three-punch combination to begin the final round and scored with two punches to the body. He followed with leg kicks and an overhand right. Gono answered with a right hook to the body and floored Kim with another big right. Kim got up, but Gono punished him with more punches and a flying knee. Kim recovered and Gono stunned him again with a trio of left hooks.

Gono scored with a liver kick and a lunging hook, then an uppercut. He followed with more left hooks and backed Kim around the cage. Gono rocked Kim with a head kick and jumped in with another flying knee. He backed Kim into the corner and teed off with punches and knees. Kim survived and Gono backed him up with more hooks. Time was called after a low blow from Kim and Gono landed a punch-kick combo. He took Kim down before the bell. 10-9 Gono.

Winner: Akihiro Gono by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 30-15-7.

 

 

Marlon Sandro vs Yuji Hoshino

Round 1:
Hoshino opened with a pair of lunging hooks and ate a stiff leg kick for his troubles. Sandro came in winging punches and clinched. He tried to trip Hoshino, but could not. Sandro just missed with a pair of huge right hooks and he clinched again.

The referee soon separated the fighters and Sandro rocked Hoshino with a right hook. He dropped him with another flurry and landed three more punches on the ground for good measure. Good rebound win for Sandro after getting mercilessly robbed by the judges at “Ninth Battle.”

Winner: Marlon Sandro by KO (Punches) at 2:33 of round one. He improves to 15-1-0.

 

 

Dave “Pee-Wee” Herman vs “Big” Jim York

Round 1:
York staggered Herman with a trio of left hooks early on and Herman quickly clinched. He pressed York into the corner and landed short knees, then tripped York to the mat. He tried to pass to mount, but York got back to his feet and drilled Herman with another big hook. Herman answered with a knee to the ribs and York landed a one-two.

More hard punches landed for York and Herman fell while throwing a high kick. York grabbed onto Herman’s leg and tried for an achilles lock, but Herman cracked him with half a dozen heel kicks directly to the face. A stunned York released the hold and Herman finished him off with three vicious punches.

Winner: Dave Herman by KO (Heel Kicks & Punches) at 2:25 of round one. He improves to 16-1-0.

 

 

Ronnie Mann vs Shigeki Osawa

Round 1:
Mann pushed forward with an overhand right, but was hit with a hard right hand counter. He caught Osawa with a right hook and clinched, then took Osawa’s back and tried for a rear naked choke. He transitioned into an armbar, then switched back to the choke. Osawa escaped by spiking Mann face-first on his head, then reversed and took top position.

Mann looked for an armbar from the bottom and prevented Osawa from landing any meaningful shots. Osawa threw short hammerfists and postured up with a handful of solid punches as Mann looked for submissions again. Osawa began to land a series of punches, but Mann weathered the storm. Very close round. 10-9 Mann, just barely.

Round 2:
The fighters circled early on in round two and traded body kicks. Mann landed a kick-punch combo to the ribs and face of Osawa, but Osawa caught Mann’s leg and scored a takedown. Osawa passed to half-guard and tried for a guillotine choke. Mann broke free and grabbed onto Osawa’s leg, but ate a dozen hammerfists in the process. Osawa stood up and just missed with what would have been an illegal soccer kick.

Mann landed a diving right cross and a head kick, then ducked under a punch and clinched. He took Osawa down against the ropes and worked from the top. Mann landed punches and took Osawa’s back, but Osawa spun free. Mann retained partial back control and looked to set up a Kimura. He landed hammerfists until the bell. Another close round. 10-9 Mann.

Round 3:
Osawa tried a head kick in the final round, but missed the mark. Mann picked his shots with quick leg kicks and one-twos and Osawa kept his distance. Mann rushed in with a right hook and a head kick, but fell short. Osawa landed a leg kick and fought off a takedown, but Mann scored with a body kick. Osawa connected with two winging hooks and Mann answered with a head kick.

Osawa threw Mann to the ground and fought off a triangle choke. Osawa passed to half-guard, but Mann regained guard seconds later. Hammerfists scored for Osawa and Mann trapped him in rubber guard. Osawa postured out and landed punches. The referee stood the fighters up and warned Mann for stalling.

Osawa landed a pair of kick-punch combos and Mann answered with a big right hook. The fighters traded hard punches and Mann scored a takedown. He moved to half-guard and then took Osawa’s back, but Osawa spun out and punched from the top. Yet another close round. Good fight. 10-9 Osawa.

Winner: Ronnie Mann by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 17-2-1.

 

 

Undercard Fight:

Ryota Uozomi defeated Yuichiro Yajima by Submission (Armbar) at 1:06 of round two. He improves to 10-2-2, 1 NC with the win.

 

 

With judging controversies beginning to affect the credibility of the promotion, Sengoku will need to ensure that its officials are properly educated for their upcoming New Year’s Eve event.