Sengoku Raiden Championships 12 ResultsSengoku Raiden Championships held its first event of 2010 tonight at SRC 12, which was headlined by a rematch for the SRC Middleweight Championship. Jorge Santiago successfully defended his title against Mamed “The Cannibal” Khalidov and avenged a loss from last November.

Also on the card, “The Japanese Sensation” Akihiro Gono earned a hard-fought decision victory over Sweden’s Diego Gonzalez, while Marlon Sandro and Maximo “Maxi” Blanco both picked up devastating knockout wins in the first round of their featured fights.

 

SRC Middleweight Championship

Jorge Santiago vs Mamed “The Cannibal” Khalidov

Round 1:
Khalidov opened the fight with a body kick and soon jumped in with a wild flying punch. Santiago answered with a flying knee and tried to drag Khalidov to the mat with a guillotine choke. Khalidov pulled free and the fight returned to the feet. The fighters clinched, but were quickly separated. Santiago threw kicks to the head and body and Khalidov replied with a spinning back kick that missed.

Khalidov stayed on the outside and threw single kicks that Santiago blocked and Santiago punched his way into a clinch in the corner. Both landed knees and Santiago scored a trip takedown. He worked from half-guard and briefly passed to mount, but Khalidov scrambled and regained half-guard. Santiago went for a straight armbar and then a Kimura just before the bell sounded. 10-9 Santiago.

Round 2:
Khalidov opened the second round with jabs and Santiago circled away, but fired off a quick punch-kick combination. He followed with another flurry and Khalidov sidestepped. The fighters clinched against the ropes and Santiago landed knees. He tried for a takedown, but Khalidov reversed and wound up on top. Khalidov landed a nice right hand and stood up. Santiago upkicked and Khalidov dove back into his guard.

Once more, Khalidov stood over Santiago and Santiago kicked at his legs. Khalidov landed a diving punch and Santiago tried for a Kimura. Khalidov pulled his arm out and dove back into Santiago’s guard with a wild punch. He landed hammerfists and scored with another right hand. Santiago secured an omoplata late in the round, but Khalidov escaped and the round came to an end. Close round. 10-9 Khalidov.

Round 3:
Santiago avoided a spinning back kick in the third round and scored with a kick-punch combo. He clinched and pressed Khalidov into the corner, but Khalidov reversed and landed a knee to the body. He took Santiago down with a judo throw and worked from Santiago’s guard. Khalidov stood over Santiago and tried for a stomp, but narrowly missed. Santiago tied Khalidov up and looked to set up a submission.

Santiago worked for a Kimura on Khalidov’s left arm, but Khalidov evaded danger and stood up. He tried for a heel hook and Santiago escaped. Back in Santiago’s guard, Khalidov landed a nice right hand and stood up again. He missed with a spinning stomp, but drilled Santiago with some big punches while standing over him. Santiago defended and tried for an omoplata, then landed a big upkick. He kicked Khalidov’s legs until the bell. 10-9 Khalidov.

Round 4:
Santiago began the fourth round with a stiff jab and a pair of uppercuts. He clinched and pressed Khalidov into the corner. Santiago scored a trip takedown and landed in Khalidov’s half-guard. He worked for a Kimura and then a straight armbar, but Khalidov escaped and swept position. From Santiago’s guard, Khalidov landed single right hands and fought off a triangle choke attempt. A big right punch landed for Khalidov, but Santiago got back to his feet.

Santiago backed Khalidov up with an uppercut and a pair of right crosses. He clinched and tried to drag a fatigued Khalidov to the mat. Khalidov reversed and took Santiago down, but Santiago kept him in place and worked for another Kimura. Khalidov landed some big punches and hammerfists and moved to side-control. The close round came to an end. 10-9 Khalidov, barely.

Round 5:
A quick exchange of kicks ended with a pair of big punches from Santiago in the final round. The fighters clinched and Khalidov tried to trip Santiago to the mat. Santiago got back up and both fighters landed punches. Khalidov shot in for a takedown and Santiago stuffed it. More power punches and a knee from Santiago forced Khalidov to flop to his back. Santiago worked from half-guard and tried to pass to mount, but Khalidov swept.

Khalidov stayed in Santiago’s guard and threw sparse strikes, but Santiago kicked him off. An upkick rocked Khalidov and Santiago rose to his feet and delivered knees. Khalidov fired back a right hook as he began to bleed from above the right eye. Time was called to check the cut. Action resumed and Santiago clinched. He landed knees until the referee separated them. Again, Santiago clinched and targeted the body and he closed out the round with a nice right hand. 10-9 Santiago.

Winner: Jorge Santiago by Unanimous Decision (49-47, 48-47, 48-47) after five rounds. He improves to 22-8-0 and remains the SRC Middleweight Champion.

 

“The Japanese Sensation” Akihiro Gono vs Diego Gonzalez

Round 1:
The fighters circled each other early on and exchanged single leg kicks. Gonzalez pressed forward, but was stopped in his tracks by a counter left hook. He recovered and landed a one-two in close, but Gono backed away and returned to leg kicks. Gonzalez threw a one-two and Gono answered with a right hook. A knee from Gonzalez strayed low, but the fight continued.

Both fighters landed punches in an exchange and Gono threw another hard leg kick. A leg kick and two quick jabs followed for Gono as Gonzalez chased him around the ring. After an exchange of body shots, time was briefly called after an accidental low blow from Gono. The fight continued and Gono put together quick combinations. Gonzalez answered with a right hook and Gono threw a variety of kicks and a one-two in the final seconds. 10-9 Gono.

Round 2:
Gono kept his distance and pawed with jabs and quick leg kicks in the second round. He landed a nice body shot and followed with leg kicks, but Gonzalez answered with one of his own. Gonzalez punched his way into a clinch, but Gono used knees to break free. He continued to pick his shots with kicks to the legs and body. Gonzalez looked to answer with counterpunches, but Gono’s speed and kicks continued to tell the story.

Gonzalez finally landed a three-punch flurry, but Gono was unfazed and resumed kicking. Gonzalez scored with a liver shot, but it did not slow Gono’s momentum and he landed more leg kicks. Gonzalez backed Gono up with a looping right hook and Gono fired back a combination. Gono rushed forward with a flying knee and landed a head kick soon after. The fighters exchanged jabs and Gonzalez threw wild punches at the bell. 10-9 Gono.

Round 3:
Gono resumed kicking the legs of Gonzalez in the final round and he threw a body kick seconds later, but Gonzalez used the opportunity to take Gono down against the ropes. Gono reversed and pinned Gonzalez in the corner on the ground. Gonzalez scrambled to his feet, but ate a knee and a combination on the way up that opened a cut above his left eye. Gono landed a one-two and a flying knee. Body and leg kicks landed for Gono and time was called to check Gonzalez’s cut.

Action resumed and the fighters traded punches. Gono scored with more kicks to the leg and body of Gonzalez and backed him up with a lengthy flurry. Gonzalez tried to close the distance to clinch, but Gono had none of it and answered with knees and another combination. Again, Gonzalez tried to clinch and Gono punched free. Another flying knee landed for Gono and Gonzalez began to bleed from the nose as the round came to an end. 10-9 Gono.

Winner: Akihiro Gono by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-29) after three rounds. He improves to 32-15-7.

 

Maximo “Maxi” Blanco vs Chang Hyun “Armbar” Kim

Round 1:
Wild punches were exchanged right away and Kim landed a knee to the body in a clinch. More wild strikes were thrown by both fighters, with neither landing cleanly. Blanco settled down and looked to jab his way in, but Kim fired off a body kick. Blanco rushed in with punches and stunned Kim with a right hook. He followed with a brutal left head kick and three more punches as Kim froze in place and eventually fell unconscious to the mat. Impressive win for Blanco.

Winner: Maximo Blanco by KO (Head Kick & Punches) at 1:10 of round one. He improves to 5-2-1, 1 NC.

 

Marlon Sandro vs Tomonari Kanomata

Round 1:
Kanomata rushed in with a one-two and a body kick, but Sandro sidestepped and cracked him with a vicious right uppercut. Kanomata collapsed to the mat completely unconscious and the fight was over as quickly as it began. Kanomata stayed down for quite some time and was stretchered out, but was later reported to be okay.

Winner: Marlon Sandro by KO (Punch) at 0:09 of round one. He improves to 16-1-0.

 

Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao vs Henry “Sentoryu” Miller

Round 1:
The fighters cautiously kept their distance early on and Nakao threw a wild three-punch flurry. He followed with a body kick, but Miller caught it and took Nakao down. Nakao reversed and wound up on top as Miller looked to set up a triangle choke. Nakao escaped and moved to side-control. He moved to a crucifix position and rained down short right hands.

More short punches followed for Nakao as he isolated Miller’s arms. Nakao alternated between punches to the face and body and remained in complete control. He looked for a keylock, but Miller was too strong and escaped. Nakao transitioned into an armbar and then a Kimura, but Miller did well to escape and returned to his feet. The fighters circled until the bell. 10-9 Nakao. Possibly a 10-8.

Round 2:
Miller sprawled out to defend an early takedown from Nakao in round two and landed some solid punches on the ground. The fighters returned to their feet and Nakao scored with an overhand left. He took Miller down and threw hammerfists from half-guard. More short punches and hammerfists found the mark for Nakao as Miller could do little in return.

Nakao moved to side-control and landed short punches, then added a pair of knees from North-South position. Seconds later, Nakao pinned Miller down in a crucifix and unloaded with short right hands. Miller had nowhere to go and ate dozens of punches before the referee finally stopped the fight.

Winner: Yoshihiro Nakao by TKO (Punches) at 3:27 of round two. He improves to 9-2-0, 2 NC.

 

Yuji Hoshino vs “The Ninja of Love” Nick Denis

Round 1:
Both fighters landed right hands to start the fight and Hoshino scored a quick takedown. He pressed Denis into the corner and tried to strike from the top, but Denis tied him up. Hoshino dropped back for a leglock just as Denis kicked him in the face. The fight returned to the feet and Denis punched the midsection of Hoshino in a clinch. More punches followed for Denis and he landed knees to the legs as well.

The fighters separated and Hoshino landed a leg kick. Denis answered with a combination and Hoshino fired back with punches of his own. Hoshino slammed Denis to the ground and fought off submissions. He struck from the top as Denis continued to look for omoplatas. Hoshino powered out and landed a solid right hand. Denis secured a triangle choke just before the bell. Very close round. 10-9 Denis.

Round 2:
Denis looked for a knockout punch in the opening seconds of round two, but Hoshino ducked under and the fighters clinched. Hoshino locked on a standing guillotine choke and pulled guard. Denis tried to fight it off, but could not and was forced to submit.

Winner: Yuji Hoshino by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:47 of round two. He improves to 17-7-7.

 

Leonardo Santos vs Kiuma Kunioku

Round 1:
The fighters looked to find their range with single kicks and punches early on and Santos scored with a stiff leg kick. Kunioku answered with one of his own and the two continued to trade strikes. Santos jumped in with a flying switch knee that landed, but Kunioku was unfazed. Santos took Kunioku down and landed in side-control. He threw knees to the body and moved to mount. Santos trapped Kunioku’s arm and used it to roll Kunioku over. He took Kunioku’s back and locked on a rear-naked choke. Kunioku quickly tapped out.

Winner: Leonardo Santos by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:06 of round one. He improves to 7-3-0.

 

Shigeki Osawa vs Kyung Ho Kang

Round 1:
Osawa shot in for a takedown right away and got it, then took Kang’s back in a standing position. He dragged Kang to the mat, but Kang locked on a modified armlock. Osawa slammed his way free and worked from Kang’s guard. He landed a handful of short punches, but Kang defended well. Osawa landed a nice right hand and tried to posture up to land more damaging strikes.

Kang attempted a triangle choke, but Osawa escaped and secured a front headlock. He landed knees until Kang rolled to his back and Osawa wound up in Kang’s guard again. Kang secured an omoplata and nearly turned it into a unique crucifix, but Osawa powered out. The fight briefly returned to the feet, but Osawa used a judo throw to take Kang down. Kang attempted more submissions from his back. 10-9 Osawa, barely.

Round 2:
Osawa opened the second round with quick punches, but Kang answered with a hard kick to the body. Osawa backed Kang up with a one-two and scored a takedown seconds later. Osawa struck from the top as Kang tied him up and looked to set up a Kimura. Osawa postured up and threw a quick flurry of punches. He pinned Kang in the corner on the ground and landed more short punches, but Kang kicked him off.

Kang rose to his feet and quickly took Osawa’s back, then locked on a body triangle. He tried for a rear-naked choke, but Osawa defended. Kang began to tee off with punches and tried for the choke again. Osawa slammed free and wound up in Kang’s guard. Kang continued to try for submissions and looked to isolate Osawa’s right arm. Kang kicked Osawa off shortly before the bell and Osawa kicked at his legs. 10-10.

Round 3:
Kang opened the final round with a body kick and the fighters exchanged punches. A second exchange followed and Osawa dropped Kang with a pair of looping hooks to the temple. Kang held on and managed to survive as Osawa struck from his guard. Kang scrambled and took Osawa’s back momentarily, but Osawa slammed out and stood up. The fighters traded kicks and punches and time was called after a kick from Kang strayed low. The fight resumed and both fighters landed kicks.

Osawa caught a body kick from Kang and scored a takedown. Kang worked for an omoplata and the fight was moved to the middle of the ring. Osawa took Kang’s back in a scramble and punished him with a trio of German suplexes. He wound up in Kang’s guard and landed short strikes, but Kang threw hammerfists from his back. Osawa passed to side-control and spun for an armbar, but lost the position. Kang tried for an armbar of his own, but Osawa easily escaped. 10-9 Osawa.

Winner: Shigeki Osawa by Unanimous Decision (30-28, 30-28, 30-28) after three rounds. He improves to 5-1-0.

 

Capped off by a very competitive rematch between Jorge Santiago and Mamed “The Cannibal” Khalidov for the SRC Middleweight Championship, SRC 12 was a solid event overall and will be best remembered for the highlight-reel knockouts from Marlon Sandro and Maximo “Maxi” Blanco.