Alistair “Demolition Man” Overeem vs Kazuyuki “Ironhead” Fujita

Round 1:
Fujita circled around the now-260-pound Overeem and the fighters traded right hands. Overeem connected with one flying knee, but Fujita shook it off. Mere seconds later, Overeem dropped Fujita in a heap through the ropes with a knee to the orbital bone. The fight was quickly stopped.

Winner: Alistair Overeem by KO (Knee) at 1:15 of round one. He improves to 32-11-0, 1 NC.

Non-Title Bout

Masanori “Kin-chan” Kanehara vs Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto

Round 1:
Yamamoto opened the fight aggressively, but Kanehara sent him off-balance with a knee. Kanehara landed a counter hook, but Yamamoto connected with a left cross. A knee found the mark for Kanehara and time was called seconds later after an accidental low blow. Kanehara recovered and action resumed with a Kanehara body kick. More kicks were exchanged and Yamamoto landed a left cross. Kanehara shot in for a takedown and Yamamoto partially fell out of the ring.

Back on the feet, Kanehara jabbed and Yamamoto replied with a glancing one-two. A leg kick and a right hook scored for Yamamoto, but Kanehara took him down. Kanehara landed weak strikes from the top as Yamamoto held on. Short hammerfists followed from Kanehara and he avoided an armbar attempt. Close round. 10-9 Kanehara.

Round 2:
Both fighters landed single leg kicks in the opening minute of round two and Kanehara clinched. He pulled guard and briefly had an omoplata, but Yamamoto escaped. Yamamoto stood up and Kanehara followed. Kanehara staggered Yamamoto with a right hook and dropped him with a left. Yamamoto survived, but Kanehara pounced and worked from half-guard. Yamamoto tried to scramble, but Kanehara stayed on top.

Kanehara tried to move to mount, but Yamamoto did well to defend and kept him in half-guard. The fight moved to the centre of the ring and Kanehara threw sparse hammerfists from the top. Kanehara continued to try to pass to mount, but could not and had to settle for more short strikes and shoulder thrusts to the jaw. He moved to side-control right at the bell. 10-9 Kanehara.

Round 3:
Yamamoto looked to score with combinations of punches and leg kicks in the final round, but Kanehara countered nicely with right hooks. Yamamoto landed more leg kicks and Kanehara answered with a lunging punch. Kanehara jabbed and landed a counter right as Yamamoto pushed forward. Yamamoto returned to leg kicks and Kanehara replied with one of his own.

Kanehara backed Yamamoto around the ring and the crowd cheered wildly for Yamamoto as the fight reached the final minute. Seconds later, he dropped Kanehara with a left hook and secured a front head lock. Big knees followed for Yamamoto, but the fighters fell through the ropes. The fight quickly resumed and Yamamoto landed another left hook. Kanehara answered with a one-two before the bell. 10-9 Yamamoto. Very close fight.

Winner: Masanori Kanehara by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 16-7-5.

Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri vs Kazunori Yokota

Round 1:
Yokota threw a pair of kicks to Kawajiri’s taped left leg, but Kawajiri reversed a takedown and worked from the top. Yokota connected with a trio of upkicks and tried to scramble to his feet. Kawajiri took his back briefly, but Yokota stood up and landed a knee to the body. Yokota scored with a one-two to the body and just missed with a right hook, but Kawajiri scored a takedown.

Again, Yokota scrambled and tried to stand up, but Kawajiri held onto him in a modified wheelbarrow position. Kawajiri took Yokota’s back again and landed punches, then tried to set up a choke. Yokota rolled over and Kawajiri worked from mount. The fight moved to the centre of the ring and Yokota tried to buck Kawajiri off. Kawajiri took his back before the bell. 10-9 Kawajiri.

Round 2:
Yokota jabbed early in round two and Kawajiri soon shot in for a takedown. He put Yokota on the mat in the corner, but Yokota worked back to his feet. Kawajiri landed punches on the way up and avoided a pair of wild hooks from Yokota. Another haymaker just missed for Yokota and he scored with a leg kick and a body shot. Kawajiri took Yokota down and looked briefly for a choke, then moved to mount.

Yokota rolled, but Kawajiri pinned him in a crucifix. He landed punches and moved to mount again, then took Yokota’s back. Kawajiri secured an arm-triangle choke and tried to pass Yokota’s half-guard. Somehow, Yokota survived, but Kawajiri teed off with punches from mount. Yokota gave up his back repeatedly as Kawajiri scored with more punches, but Kawajiri could not finish the fight. 10-9 Kawajiri.

Round 3:
Yokota picked his shots with single kicks and punches in the final round, then just missed with a looping right hook. Yokota clinched, but Kawajiri took him down in the corner. Kawajiri moved to mount yet again and the fight was restarted in the middle of the ring. Kawajiri landed punches with his free hand, then switched to hammerfists and tried to set up a choke. Yokota rolled to his side as Kawajiri struck from the top.

Yokota scrambled and nearly escaped to his feet, but Kawajiri maintained back control and soon secured another tight arm-triangle choke. As in round two, Yokota somehow survived again and squirmed free. Kawajiri took his back and then transitioned into a vicious armbar that could have easily snapped Yokota’s arm. Yokota literally refused to give up and made it to the bell, though his arm seemed to be hurt. Insanity. 10-9 Kawajiri.

Winner: Tatsuya Kawajiri by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 26-5-2.

Hideo Tokoro vs Jong Man Kim

Round 1:
Tokoro landed a stiff leg kick early on and Kim struggled to find his range. Kim connected with a lunging overhand right and Tokoro answered with a knee in a clinch. Time was called after an accidental low blow from Tokoro. The fight resumed and Tokoro scored with a kick to the liver. Kim answered with an overhand right and Tokoro fell in an exchange. Tokoro fell again after his head clashed with Kim’s, but he quickly rolled into a leg submission and then stood up.

Kim tagged Tokoro with a left hook and both fighters missed with lead lefts. A big exchange of wild punches saw both land and Tokoro punished Kim with knees. He jumped into a flying triangle choke, then transitioned into an armbar. Kim somehow survived and trapped Tokoro in a leg scissor choke. Tokoro rolled through into another armbar, but a badly bloodied Kim survived. Amazing round. 10-9 Tokoro.

Round 2:
The second round began slowly as each fighter looked to pick their shots with quick punches. Kim, already bleeding from the nose, began squinting his right eye, which soon swelled completely shut. Tokoro pressed forward with a knee to the midsection and he followed with a right hook. Kim answered with a pair of stiff jabs.

A lead left hook found the mark for Kim, but Tokoro continued to push the pace. The fighters traded counter lefts and Tokoro scored with leg kicks. Kim landed a right cross and Tokoro rocked his head back with a one-two. A punch-kick combo also landed for Tokoro and he easily evaded a wild punch from Kim. Very even second round. 10-10.

Round 3:
After an exchange of kicks, Tokoro connected with a flying knee that sent Kim off-balance. He kept Kim guessing with leg kicks and quick punches, but Kim dropped Tokoro with a looping punch. Kim swarmed with punches and took Tokoro’s back. Tokoro squirmed free and took top position. He moved into a modified crucifix and looked to set up an armbar. Kim defended and Tokoro lost the position.

The fight returned to the feet and Kim landed a lead left. Kim backed away and Tokoro rushed in with a diving punch. Big shots were exchanged against the ropes and Tokoro connected with a huge hook. Kim smiled and Tokoro drilled him with knees. Tokoro continued to tee off with punches, but Kim stayed on his feet and answered with a one-two. Tokoro sent Kim to the mat with a knee to the ribs, but could not finish the fight. Amazing battle. 10-9 Tokoro.

Winner: Hideo Tokoro by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. He improves to 26-21-1.

“Marvellous” Melvin Manhoef vs Kazuo “The Hitman” Misaki

Round 1:
Misaki used fakes to keep Manhoef guessing, then sidestepped an overhand right. Manhoef connected with a right cross, but Misaki was unfazed. Misaki missed with a flying knee and a lead left hook and Manhoef dropped Misaki with a big flurry. The referee immediately dove in to stop the fight even though Misaki appeared to be fine and was actively defending himself. Terrible stoppage, but Manhoef takes the win nonetheless.

Misaki filed an official appeal of the decision following the fight. A ruling will be made within two weeks. The stoppage was horrible, so a No Contest is not out of the question.

Winner: Melvin Manhoef by TKO (Punches) at 1:49 of round one. He improves to 24-6-1.