Sengoku Raiden Championship 15 Live ResultsSengoku Raiden Championship came to the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan today for SRC 15. The main event featured a light heavyweight bout between Hiroshi Izumi and James “The Messenger” Zikic. Both the SRC Welterweight and Asia Bantamweight Grand Prixs were also showcased.

Also on the card, former lightweight title contender Kazunori Yokota faced Brian “The Bandit” Cobb, while devastating knockout artist Maximo “Maxi” Blanco battled the former two-division King of Pancrase, Kiuma Kunioku. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for all fights on the card.

 

Hiroshi Izumi vs James “The Messenger” Zikic

Round 1:
Zikic landed a right hand early on, then a straight left seconds later. The right opened a cut above Izumi’s right eye and time was called after 30 seconds of tentative circling. The ringside doctor checked on Izumi’s cut, but the fight continued and Zikic threw more single punches. Zikic landed lead left hooks and shrugged off a clinch. The cut above Izumi’s eye began to bleed again as Zikic connected with jabs.

Izumi struggled to find his range against the left jabs of Zikic, who picked his shots. A hard counter right hook landed for Zikic and Izumi dove in for a takedown. He took Zikic down, but Zikic struck from his back. Izumi threw weak hammerfists from the top, but Zikic remained active on the bottom. Izumi stood and threw four punches and Zikic countered with upkicks. 10-9 Zikic.

Round 2:
Izumi scored with an overhand right counter in the early stages of the second round and the fighters traded punches in a brief exchange. Izumi rushed in with a three-punch combo and tried to clinch, but Zikic broke free. Zikic returned to jabs as the action remained scarce. Izumi threw a kick and a lunging punch, but Zikic easily countered with two more jabs.

Izumi finally connected with a looping right hand and clinched. He could not take Zikic down and Zikic returned to striking. Izumi landed another right and Zikic instantly countered with one of his own. Two more rights scored for Izumi and Zikic replied with jabs and a one-two. Closer round due to the lack of action. 10-9 Zikic.

Round 3:
An exchange of punches opened the final round and both landed lead left hooks. Izumi tried to close the distance and threw winging right hooks, but Zikic defended and countered nicely with a short right uppercut. Izumi finally took Zikic down, but Zikic immediately returned to his feet. He picked his shots again with jabs and single punches.

Izumi once again rushed in with lunging punches to no avail and Zikic threw three more jabs. Izumi clinched and took Zikic down. He punched from the top and fought off a triangle choke attempt. From side-control, Izumi threw hammerfists as Zikic answered with knees and punches from his back. Izumi tried to move to mount and landed three hard right hands. Another close round. 10-9 Izumi, barely.

The judges returned an extremely questionable decision, giving Izumi a victory that he didn’t appear to deserve at all. Zikic seemed to have won at least two rounds, if not all three.

Winner: Hiroshi Izumi by Split Decision (30-29, 30-29, 29-30) after three rounds. He improves to 3-1-0.

 

Brian “The Bandit” Cobb vs Kazunori Yokota

Round 1:
Cobb defended a takedown early on and locked on a tight guillotine choke, but Yokoto spun out. Cobb attempted a rear-naked choke as Yokota stood, but was unable to secure it and Yokota backed away. Kicks were exchanged and Yokota scored with two kicks to Cobb’s lead leg. Cobb missed with a wild spinning backfist and took Yokota down. He threw knees and punches. Yokota stood and Cobb pressed him into the corner where he landed knees to Yokota’s thighs. Cobb dragged Yokota back down and threw more knees.

Yokota spun and took top position in Cobb’s guard. The fighters fell through the ropes and were moved to the centre of the ring. The fighters stood soon after and Yokota landed a grazing knee. More kicks were exchanged and Cobb took Yokota’s back again. He dragged him to the mat and landed hammerfists until Yokota stood. Yokota scored a takedown of his own and dropped down for a heel hook. Cobb stood out of the hold and punched from the top. Would be 10-9 Cobb, but 9-9 due to point deduction for Cobb missing weight.

Round 2:
Cobb took Yokota down in the second round, but Yokota worked back to his feet and answered with a takedown of his own. He struck from the top, then stood over Cobb and tried to pass to side-control. Cobb rolled over and Yokota took his back. Cobb stood and knees were exchanged in the clinch. The referee separated the fighters and another exchange of kicks followed.

Yokota caught a kick and sent Cobb to the mat in the corner. Cobb briefly attempted a heel hook, but Yokota punished him with punches from the top. He moved to Cobb’s half-guard and tried for a Brabo Choke, but Cobb escaped. Yokota attempted an armbar, but Cobb rolled through and Yokota wound up in his guard. Yokota landed two right hands and stood. He attempted a pair of stomps and landed more punches that damaged Cobb’s right cheek. 10-9 Yokota.

Round 3:
Yokota landed a hard leg kick to open the final round and followed with another soon after. Both fighters ducked under right hooks from the other and Yokota connected with a straight right. Yokota scored with a flurry and a knee that backed Cobb up to the ropes. Cobb reversed a clinch and took Yokota’s back. He locked on a rear-naked choke and Yokota was forced to scramble quickly to escape. Cobb tried for the choke again and Yokota stood.

Cobb dragged Yokota back down with another rear-naked choke, but Yokota managed to keep a hold of Cobb’s left arm. Cobb switched from a rear-naked choke to an arm-triangle choke and Yokota escaped. Cobb moved to mount and the fight was moved to the middle of the ring. Cobb took Yokota’s back, but Yokota spun out and stood. He rocked Cobb with punches, but Cobb took him right back down. Again, Yokota stood and secured a headlock, but Cobb tripped him to the mat. Yokota got up and threw wild punches. 10-9 Cobb.

Winner: Brian Cobb by Split Decision (28-28 [Must Decision – Cobb], 28-28 [Must Decision – Cobb], 29-30) after three rounds. He improves to 17-6-0.

 

Maximo “Maxi” Blanco vs Kiuma Kunioku

Round 1:
Blanco rushed right in with a flying knee, but lost his balance and Kunioku took back control while standing. He threw punches until Blanco stuck his head through the ropes. Blanco was warned and the fight was restarted in the centre of the ring. Blanco landed a front kick and Kunioku shot in for a takedown. He picked Blanco up, but Blanco reversed and the fighters exchanged knees in a clinch. Kunioku stomped at Blanco’s feet and landed a knee. Blanco broke free of the clinch with a right hand. Blanco threw a front kick and a knee, then followed with a barrage of body shots.

Kunioku held strong and returned fire with punches. Kicks were exchanged and Kunioku landed a glancing one to the head. He followed with a leg kick and a left hook. Blanco scored with two right hands, but Kunioku clinched and threw shoulder strikes. Blanco connected with two leg kicks and a right hook, then defended a takedown. Kunioku landed a variety of kicks, but Blanco hurt him badly with an uppercut. Kunioku dove for a leg and ate more punches. He stood and was dropped by another uppercut. Blanco finished the fight with punches on the ground.

Winner: Maximo Blanco by KO (Punches) at 4:26 of round one. He improves to 7-2-1, 1 NC.

 

Kazuo “Yoshiki” Takahashi vs Chang Seob Lee

Round 1:
Lee stuffed a takedown early on and teed off with hammerfists that seemed to have Takahashi in trouble, but time was called and Lee was warned for strikes to the back of the head. The fight continued and the fighters traded wild punches before clinching in the corner. A stalemate followed and the referee separated them. Lee landed leg kicks and a combination, but Takahashi took him down. From side-control, Takahashi threw short elbows to the body. Within seconds, he isolated Lee’s arm from the scarf hold position and secured a straight armbar with his legs. Lee instantly tapped.

Winner: Kazuo Takahashi by Submission (Scarf Hold Armlock) at 2:28 of round one. He improves to 29-25-3, 1 NC.

 

SRC Welterweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura vs Takuya Wada

Round 1:
The fighters missed with punches early on, but Wada landed a nice leg kick. Left hands connected for both and Wada threw another kick to Nakamura’s lead leg. Hard punches were exchanged and Nakamura landed a big punch to Wada’s eye. He tripped Wada to the mat and landed in side-control. Nakamura isolated Wada’s arms and punched with his left hand. Nakamura secured a full crucifix from the top and continued to punch while preventing Wada from escaping.

Left hand after left hand scored for Nakamura and Wada could do nothing but cover up. He had nowhere to go as Nakamura landed roughly two dozen unanswered punches. Finally, Wada tapped out and the referee dove in to save him from further punishment, giving Nakamura the first stoppage win on the card.

Winner: Keita Nakamura by Submission (Punches) at 3:30 of round one. He improves to 20-4-2 and advances to the finals of the SRC Welterweight Grand Prix.

 

SRC Welterweight Grand Prix Semi-Final

Yasubey Enomoto vs Taisuke “Goten” Okuno

Round 1:
Enomoto opened the fight with a variety of kicks and quick punches, but Okuno answered with punches of his own. Okuno rushed in with a three-punch flurry and Enomoto sidestepped with ease. He landed punches in close and followed with jabs. More punches and a hard shot to the body scored for Enomoto as Okuno countered with an uppercut. A one-two also landed for Okuno, but Enomoto targeted the body again. Enomoto landed a one-two of his own and the fighters exchanged lefts. Okuno threw a leg kick and Enomoto fired off a flurry.

Two hooks backed Okuno up and he collapsed to the mat after a pair of body shots and a knee. Enomoto landed punches, then stood and Okuno followed. Time was called after an Enomoto kick strayed low. The fight continued and Okuno cracked Enomoto with a pair of right hooks. He backed Okuno into a corner and fired off more punches, but Enomoto countered nicely and circled out. A lead left hook scored for Okuno, but he ate a flurry in return. Enomoto teed off with punches to the head and body in the corner. He ended the round with knees and punches to the body. 10-9 Enomoto.

Round 2:
Jabs from both fighters began round two and Okuno walked Enomoto down with punches. Enomoto countered with knees and punches to the body. Enomoto landed a punch-kick combo and Okuno quickly answered with a leg kick. Enomoto jabbed and continued to mix up his strikes. A big combination of punches and a head kick forced Okuno to retreat, but he regained his footing and landed a solid one-two. Enomoto circled to the side and landed a left hook to the body.

More jabs and a knee connected for Enomoto, but Okuno landed a hard left hook in return. Enomoto landed more jabs, then a kick and a knee to the body. Okuno threw more lead left hooks, but ate a series of five leg kicks. Okuno landed a stiff jab, but Enomoto answered with a body shot and dropped Okuno as he turned away. Enomoto blasted Okuno with hammerfists, then stood and threw a stomp. Okuno stood and was hit with a hook, a vicious leg kick and a knee to the body. 10-9 Enomoto. Could easily be a 10-8.

Round 3:
Okuno taunted Enomoto early in the final round and looked to score with punches and a body kick. Enomoto kept his distance and landed jabs and a kick of his own. A knee to the body and a lead left hook found the mark for Enomoto and he followed with even more knees and punches. Okuno shrugged them off and Enomoto jabbed. He put together combinations to the head and body, then ended with a leg kick. Enomoto kept Okuno guessing with varied strikes and landed a kick to the eye.

Hard leg kicks forced Okuno to limp on his left leg and Enomoto bloodied his nose with jabs. Enomoto landed a body kick and Okuno replied with a lunging left hook. More punches scored for Enomoto as a fatigued Okuno missed with wild counters. Enomoto threw punches and a body kick. A slap to the face and a kick to the liver followed as Enomoto took complete control of the exchanges. Okuno, with his face a bloody and swollen mess, pressed forward with desperation punches, but Enomoto countered with crisp strikes. He threw a capoeira kick at the bell. 10-9 Enomoto.

Winner: Yasubey Enomoto by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0 and advances to the finals of the SRC Welterweight Grand Prix.