Shooto delivered a scintillating night of action with their double header at Shibuya Tsutaya O-East on Saturday. Shooto 2020 volume 6 was held with restricted audience but those in attendance were treated to a day of violent knockouts, slick submissions and back and forth wars.
Shooto 2020 Volume 6 Part 2
Pacific Rim Featherweight Title Match
Keisuke “Sasuke” Sasu defeats Takashi Nakayama (TKO, 2:05, round 2)
The main event opened with “Sasuke” utilizing his strength to try to rattle Nakayama. The aggressive challenger landed a perfect Osoto Gaeshi trip from the clinch to put the Tsudanuma Dojo grappling specialist on his back. The champion was content to play from the guard until Sasu elected to disengage. Nakayama changed gears and caught his foe off-guard with an immaculately timed double leg. The challenger returned the favor, rotating hips and surprising Nakayama with a deep armlock from guard. With the elbow on the hip and arm extended, the fight seemed all but over. The proud champion would not tap, somehow inching out of the hold he fired down blows.
The challenger scored big in the 2nd round, a left hand counter to a Nakayama kick landed flush on the chin. Seeing the champion wobbled and legs stiffened, Sasu launched a flying knee that grazed the head, then rained down heavy blows on his turtled opponent. The champion fought his heart out trying to recover but “Sasuke” had strong hand control with one arm while simultaneously blasting away with the other. The situation remained dire for Nakayama until the referee decided enough was enough.
Sasuke was crowned the new Pacific Rim Featherweight champion, making a huge statement with a sensational TKO at 2:05 of the 2nd round. While it is back to the drawing board for Nakayama, who fought bravely but was never able to get his game going.
Nobuki Fujii defeats Joji Goto by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Fight of the night belonged to the highly experienced 7th ranked Nobuki Fuji and Shooto newcomer Joji Goto. Confident in his striking arsenal the debuting Goto demonstrated his superior stand up in the opening round. The southpaw fired thunderous left high kicks that had their effect despite being defended well. Mixing in a steady diet of straight lefts and 1-2 combinations, the Team Tribes sharp and accurate striking fundamentals were damaging Fujii. A guillotine choke from Goto and Fujii showed his agility, flipping over and resetting on top. Although the round belonged to Goto, Fujii was not intimidated and was beginning to find his game.
Outstruck in 1st and with his back against the wall Fujii dug deep and soldiered forward, taking damage but slowly wearing on his opponent. Fuji found the answer he needed, scoring again and again with a single leg he was able to rotate Goto down. In his element on the ground Fujii took the back and threatened with a suffocating rear naked choke, coming very close to victory as the bell sounded.
Weathering the storm again in the 3rd Fujii leant on his experience to fight his fight in the 3rd. Fighting into the clinch he twice swiped Goto down with a single and claimed back position. Goto used every moment to work escapes. With 15 seconds left he positively unloaded with everything he had. Fujii stumbled and held on until the final bell to take the unanimous decision in an evenly contested, exhilarating bout.
Tateo Iida defeats Yoshitomo Inoue (straight arm lock, 4:23 round 2)
Both fighters were very relaxed as they tested the waters as the fight commenced. As time progressed the more experienced Iida upped the tempo. Targeting the body with left hands, Iida mixed in heavy low kicks that lifted Inoue off the ground. Frustrated by Iida`s fantastic head movement, Inoue finally started to find a home for his straight right and low kicks of his own.
Iida mixed strikes, takedown attempts and kept his head bobbing and weaving in the 2nd round. Inoue fired away but could not find his target. The variation created an opportunity for Iida to score a bodylock takedown. From top he constantly fished for a submission, moving from Kimura to leg scissors choke to straight arm lock. Inoue defended well, keeping his arms crossed and safe but the persistence of Iida paid off, with just 37 seconds left the arm was straightened and Inoue tapped.
Yuto Sekiguchi defeats Yo Ootaka (KO, 2:19 round 1)
Yo Ootaka and Sekiguchi started with some fast stance switches and rear leg kicks. The fighters nullified each other against the fence prompting a referee separation. Seconds after the restart Sekiguchi landed a crushing rear hand right counter as Ootaka charged forward. Ootaka crashed to the canvas as referee stepped in to save the fallen fighter.
Shooto 2020 Volume 6 Part 1
Junji “Sarumaru” Ito defeats Tateo Iino (TKO, 4:54 round 1)
The featured bout of the first part, Junji Ito vs Tateo Iino was fought at a blistering pace as neither fighter would back down. Iino made his intentions clear from the get-go, pumping out a jab and straights, he swarmed forward to pressure “Sarumaru”. Capitalizing on his opponents aggression, Ito took the fight to the canvas with a swift double leg. The Shooting Gym Tokyo fighter attempted constitutive front sleeper chokes but Iino`s defense was flawless. On the feet, Iino pressed forward in a straight line fearlessly while Ito ducked, evaded, created angles and fired back. The Wajutsu Hearts representatives pressure tactic proved costly, constantly stopped in his tracks by pinpoint counters from the faster Ito, damage was mounting. A stiff jab wobbled Iino and “Sarumaru” did not let up, letting go with fast and furious combinations. A left hook, uppercut and straights drilled their target causing the referee to call the fight at 4:54 of the opening stanza. Iino was still standing but absorbed a lot of cumulative damage.
After an impressive performance to take out the number 2 in the division, Junji “Sarumaru” Ito has surely set himself up for a title shot at Hiroba Minowa. A match up with the all the ingredients for a classic.
Nobumitsu “Tyson” Osawa defeats Mark “Max the Body” Moleke (TKO, 3:07, round 1)
Monstrous leg kicks from “Tyson” echoed around the venue as he racked up the damage to the lead leg of “Max the Body”. Not letting Osawa get comfortable, the Brave gym fighter countered the kicks with hands. Attacking off a leg kick, Moleke landed a right but was unaware of the lightning fast left hook counter coming over the top. “Tyson`s” signature strike landed flush sending Max face first to the canvas. One of the most feared knockout artists in Japan, Nobumitsu “Tyson” Osawa, added another victim to his list.
Ryoji Kudo defeats Shohei Nose (TKO, referee stoppage, 2;03, round 1)
Shohei Nose worked into the clinch early, using his Judo to search for inside trips and throws. With a strong wrestling backbone Kudo was able to defend and recover position. As the combatants exited the clinch Kudo scored big with an elbow. He then let go with a barrage of strikes, stunning Nose with a left hook. The Master Japan fighter returned fire with his own flurry as they both traded in the pocket. Kudo proved to have more firepower, smashing through the glove defense of Nose. A left, uppercut and right from the athletic wrestler slumped Nose against the fence as the fight is waved off.
Yamato Nishikawa defeats Asuka Tsubaki (triangle choke, 3:23 round 1)
Tsubaki got off to an explosive start, initiating the grappling to take the back, pick up and slam the Nishikawa gym representative. The 17 year old Nishikawa locked a Kimura grip but was repetitively dumped to the ground as Tsubaki chained together takedowns. Arms clasped the Shooto Amateur Champion lifted the youngster once more to slam him down and secure the position. Showing maturity beyond his years, Nishikawa stayed calm and collected. From guard he used his legs to pull his opponents posture down before crossing them for an expertly applied triangle choke for the tap.
Miku Nakamura defeats Otoha Nagao (decision 20-18×2, 20-17)
Both fighters charged out the gates to engage in an entertaining stand up war that lasted the round. Nakamura relied on hand combinations and a sharp left straight to blast her foe. Nagao effectively fired off lead leg kicks to catch her southpaw opponent and worked elbows from the clinch. Nakamura began to pull ahead late, driving back Nagao each time they engaged.
The 2nd round saw Nakamura fight her “A game”. Her “go for broke” style shone through as she attacked continuously with guillotines and front naked chokes, ending the round with a tight armlock. Nagao was game but was regulated to defense, struggling out of some tight squeezes, she did well to make it to the final bell. The victor was never in doubt as judges clearly sided with Nakamura who evened up her score with AACC fighters 1-1.
