Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out 2011

I do same thing as 2010.Who going to get attention? I don't make major list cause it's almost same as last year.You need attention Omigawa,Hioki,Sandro,Kanehara,Kikuno,Parky,Jung,Maxi as last year.(Kanehara and Jung's career in tough situation though)

If SRC do Bantam weight world grand prix.I think it will be interesting. It depend on what talent they bring,but think about how there Feather weight grand prix turn out and they seems to have at least one top ten Bantam weight. (Masakatsu Ueda　(Paraestra Tokyo))

Who is up and comer at local level.

Let's make a list.

from local

Yuta "Uruka" Sasaki (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Suruga Dojo).
Trained by Kenichi Serizawa who is referee.Have great sense of grapple at young age.Won Shooto rookie tourny and will participate March's Shooto.Of course need time for major even he grow fast.

Battle for flyweight.

Pancrase have Kiyotaka Shimizu 　(SK Absolute) as a champ.
ZST clowned Ryosuke Tanuma　(Reversal Gym Yokohama Groundslam) as a champ.

DEEP recently started division.Guy like Hirotaka Miyakawa (Alliance Square) fought at that weight.But I want give attention Yusaku Nakamura (Style) who fought at Bantam weight expected to drop.Who looking good at three fight fighter.

Of course Shooto have longest history at that division.But recently match making are limited for them.So I want cross over match ups for Shooto's that division.

I can see fight for top of division get tougher.Jussier, Urushitani and Mamoru rank is still higher, but may they will get challenged.

Rambaa "M16" Somdet (M16 Muay Thai Style) vs Junji "Sarumaru" Ito (Shooting Gym Yokohama)
First most significant fight for minimum weight.After flyweight developed.Minimum weight (or Straw weight) is the last place for new weight division for Men's MMA.


Junji "Sarumaru" Ito

Female prospect improvement.

Last year have many prospect for Japanese female MMA.Crops are become more significant when they got title.(Ayaka Hamasaki (AACC),Rin Nakai (Shooto Dojo Shikoku))

SKILL MMA : Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out

World of Flyweight

Flyweight is not known for many people but there are fighters who can enjoy casual audience.I list many fighter from Japanese scene and some states side fighter.But that's only mean those two areas are more established in this division than other areas.

This division will make a lot of challenger from country people's average scale is small.For instance I suppose to think Philippine can be power this weight.Moreover,highest level Muay Thai fighters belong to this weight.If quality Muay Thai fighters adapt mma constantly (it's not easy,obviously),You can say flyweight have highest level striker.Even Today Shooto's 115 pounds champ Rambaa "M16" Somdet smash opponent and highly evaluated.

Jussier "Formiga" da Silva
He is 24 years old but currently No1 ranked flyweight in the world.He shock Shooto community with secure some takedown against Shinichi "BJ" Kojima and beat him at decision.

Shinichi "BJ" Kojima
He is known for defense against long time division king Mamoru Yamaguchi with nasty Rear Naked Choke.



Shinichi "BJ" Kojima

Mamoru Yamaguchi
Long time division king.Known by Afro hair style like former Japanese box champ Yoko Gushiken.Have a quality striking skill.Participate Shooto Boxing and beat rankers.


Mamoru Yamaguchi

Yasuhiro Urushitani
Shooto's outbox king.Have a draw decision with "BJ" Kojima many claimed his win.


Yasuhiro Urushitani

Mitsuhisa Sunabe
Once mediocre feather weight.But his two division drop and box improve at Shirai-Gushiken box gym make top 10 flyweight.New comer for flyweight mix and he against any quality flyweight make new breath to this division in Japan.


Mitsuhisa Sunabe

Kiyotaka Shimizu
2007 armature Kick-boxing Kaminarimon winner. (Kick-boxing organization RISE's armature division) Recently surprised many people with competitive bout against Mamoru Yamaguchi.Soon meet Mitsuhisa Sunabe at 2010 February.


Kiyotaka Shimizu

Pat Runez
Many people don't know him.But he beat John Dodson at UWC 7.Unfortunately,that event known by robbery of the year Beebe vs Easton.But that flyweight fight is quality and worth check.

Alexis Villa
He got Olympic Bronze at Fleestyle wrestling, Atlanta.Athletic as expected from background.

Villa vs Acosta


Rambaa "M16" Somdet

He is current Shooto flyweight (115 pounds) champ.It's smaller weight than Nevada (125 pounds) flyweight but he can fight at 125ponds too.Former elite Muay Thai fighter turn into MMA at 2001.Get BJJ skill with MMA fighter Shooto champ Masakatsu Ueda and Naoya Uematsu.

Rambaa vs Gomez