Shooto 2021, January 31st, Part 2, Results and Review
Main Event, Pacific Rim Featherweight Championship, Keisuke “Sasuke” Sasu defeated Taison Naito (Rear Naked Choke, 2:36 R2) Both warriors exchanged kick for kick as battle…
Articles by Peter Leghorn
Shooto 2021, January 31st, Part 1, Results and Review
Main Event, Nobuki Fujii defeated Kenji Kato (Unanimous Decision, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26) The fighters confronted each other as the main event got underway and intentions…
Shooto 2021, January 31st Double Header, Part 2 Preview
The January 31st Shooto “double header” continues with 5 additional evening matches, from 17:30 JST. Starting with a sensational bout to open the show, the…
Shooto 2021, January 31st Double Header, Part 1 Preview
Shooto kicks off 2021 in style with a stacked “double header” coming from Tokyo’s New Pier Hall. Japans longest running org is consistently bolstering their…
Rizin 26 New Years Eve, Early Prelims Review and Results
Yoshinari Nadaka defeated Petmalai Phetjaroenvit (3 Knockdowns, 2:19 Round 1) Not a household name but one of the most complete strikers in the world, Nadaka…
Rizin 26 New Years Eve, Undercard Results and Review
Naoki Inoue defeated Yuki Motoya (Rear Naked Choke, 3:00, round 1) The battle of the super technicians of the Bantamweight division commenced on the feet…
Rizin 26 New Tears Eve, Main Card Results and Review
RIZIN Bantamweight Championship Kyoji Horiguchi defeated Kai Asakura (TKO, punches, 2:50 round 1) Stepping into to the ring for the first time since his shocking…
Rizin 26 New Years Eve, Fight Preview Part 3
The final preview of Rizin’s New Years Eve event, bouts 11 through 15, featuring 2 title fights and the biggest names in Japanese MMA. Catch all…
Rizin 26 New Years Eve, Fight Preview Part 2
Rizin’s stacked New Years Eve event is split into 3 parts with 2 intermissions with Saitama Super Arena once again plays host. This next preview…
Rizin 26 New Years Eve, Fight Preview Part 1
New Years Eve Martial Arts events have always held a special place in the hearts of fans in Japan and around the world. Rizin once…
Shooto 2020 Volume 7 Results and Review.
From Korakuen Hall, the venue synonymous with Martial Arts, Shooto 2020 volume 7 featured 7 fiercely fought bouts. Revered by fans, the longest running JMMA…
Rizin 25, Results and Review
Yutaka Saito defeated Mikuru Asakura (Decision, 3-0) With the Featherweight title on the line Shooto Champion Yutaka Saito squared off against Rizin star and fan…
Shooto 2020 Volume 7 Preview
Shooto is back in Korakuen Hall, the Mecca of MMA, for 2020 volume 7 sponsored by One Championship. Shooto has pulled together an incredible 7…
The Quintet Experience: Quintet Fight Night 5
The “Quintet” reputation Since getting involved in Martial Arts as a teenager I have always maintained an enormous amount of admiration and interest in the…
Pancrase 319 Review
Koshi “Luxor” Matsumoto defeated Hiroto Uesako (Dec 29-28, 28-28, 29-28) The champion vs champion main event promised something special and without doubt delivered as Koshi…
Quintet Fight Night 5 Preview, Teams and Players
Team CARPE DIEM Masahiro Iwasaki leads an all Brazilian JuJitsu cast from the esteemed Carpe Diem gym. Highly regarded for their aggressive submission style…
Pancrase 319 Preview
Japanese MMA trailblazers Pancrase are back this Sunday, the 25th, at regular venue Shin Kiba Studio Coast. Pancrase 319 will be a live audience event…
Pancrase 318 – Beyond 317, Review and Results
Interim Lightweight King of Pancrase Championship Tatsuya”Yanbo” Saika defeated Genpei Hayashi (KO, Uppercut, 2:25, R1) The main event for the Interim Lightweight King of Pancrase…
Sunday 27th, Pancrase 318 – Beyond 317 Preview
After a Covid-19 positive forced the cancellation just 10 minutes before their last event, Pancrase 318- Beyond 317! manifests as a plethora of top level…
Shooto 2020 Volume 6 Results and Review
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…
Shooto 2020 Volume 6 Preview, Saturday September 19th
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt MMA in Japan, Shooto 2020 volume 6 venue will be Tsutaya O-East, a change from previously announced Korakuen…
Pancrase 318 Live Broadcast, Free on YouTube
Pancrase 318 will air live on their official YouTube channel on Sunday, September the 27th from 14:30 JST. For their very first no-audience show fans…
Pancrase 318 Without Audience, Temporary Weight Class Amendments
It has been a tumultuous time for MMA in Japan as the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on all aspects of the sport. With…
PANCRASE 317, August 23, 2020, Main Card Preview
In the wake of a successful return to action last month, Pancrase has put together another stellar card promising the kind of quality MMA fans…
Shooto 2020 Volume 5, Results and Review
Mina Kurobe defeated Megumi Sugimoto (decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Kurobe and Sugimoto started their Women’s Super Atomweight Championship bout at a furious pace and…
This Saturday, August 1st, Shooto 2020 Volume 5 Preview.
The resurgence of Japanese MMA continues as Shooto returns to Korakuen Hall this Saturday, August 1st. While the fight card may contain a modest 5…
Pancrase 316, Isao vs Akira, Results and Review
After a 5 month hiatus Pancrase returned to Studio Coast last Friday for Pancrase 316. Fans were welcomed back by a stacked, action packed card…
Pancrase 316 on Friday 24th. Main Card Preview
JMMA has slowly been starting to resurface amid the global Covid-19 pandemic. With some alterations to the fight card, Pancrase 316 will kick off this…
Isao Kobayashi, Akira Okada Collide in Highly Anticipated Pancrase 316 Headliner
After a 5-month interval Pancrase is back this month with Pancrase 316, Friday the 24th. Despite the Covid-19 epidemic forcing cancellations, rescheduling and fight card…
Shooto 2020 volume 3 results and review
The highly anticipated main event between Pacific Rim champion Ryo Okada and surging contender Kazuma Kuramoto was fought at a furious pace. Kuramoto quite literally…
Shooto 2020 volume 3 Preview
Shooto 2020 volume 3 marks the return of mma in Japan following the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. With a fight card well worth the…
Professional Shooto 2020 volume 3 set for 31st May
Professional Shooto 2020 volume 3 will commence on the 31st of the month in an audience free Abema TV broadcast. Abema previously aired “Road to…
One Championship implements official fighter rankings
One Championship took another big step forward with their announcement of official fighter rankings. Decided upon by a panel of prestigious experts the inaugural rankings…
Women’s Bushido Rin Debut Event, May 23
Next month, Saturday, May 23, fight fans can look forward to the launch of an intriguing new fight organization. “Women’s Bushido Rin” is to feature…
Pancrase 316 on July 5th
Studio Coast will once again play host to Pancrase 316 for their stacked July 5th mega card. Showcasing a bevy of their top talent combined…
Stamp Fairtex Enjoys Quality Time with Family Amid COVID-19 Crisis
A veteran of over 80 Muay Thai fights, sensational striker Stamp Fairtex has enjoyed a stellar run in the Atomweight division, securing Kickboxing and Muay…
One Championship launches Video Podcast hosted by Rich Franklin
Mixed Martial Arts champion turned One Championship Vice President Rich Franklin hosts a Video Podcast talk show. ‘Franklin Speaking’ streams live through One Championships Youtube…
DEEP 94 Review
The main event of DEEP 94 at Korakuen Hall featured an intriguing clash of styles as veterans Yuki Motoya and Takafumi Otsuka squared off. Fighting…
Shooto January 26th 2020 Results and Review
For January 26th Shooto 2020 main event, the number 1 and 2 ranked fighters faced off to determine who would hold the vacant Strawweight title…
Professional Shooto 2020/01/26 Preview
Shooto returns to Korakuen hall on the 26th for Professional Shooto 2020 Sponsored by One for a card that concludes with 2 championship fights. The…
Rizin 20 New Years Eve Review
An explosive 15 fight card at Rizin 20 saw 2019 end with a bang. A sold out Saitama Super Arena hosted an incredible night of…
Bellator 237/ Rizin 29th December Review
The crowd were silent with awe and anticipation as the main event between Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson got underway. Each…
Rizin 20 New Years Eve Preview
Saitama Super Arena once again plays host to Rizin for another star studded New Years Eve show. In the traditional Rizin ring we take a…
Bellator Japan: Fedor vs Rampage preview
Nothing quite says New Year in Japan like a star studded martial arts show and Rizin once again fills the void left after the…
Shooto 30th Anniversary Tour 8th round Results and Review
Korakuen Hall once again hosted Shooto as their 30th anniversary volume 8 card saw some of Japans most skilled and experienced fighters take center stage….
DEEP 92 Impact Results
The DEEP 92 Impact main event title match came down to the striker vs wrestler style clash many expected. Champion Koji Takeda showcased his world…
DEEP Jewels 26 Results
Jewels 26 main event saw 2 highly experienced competitors face off as Emi Tomimatsu challenged title holder Tomo Maesawa. Out to avenge a 2016 submission…
DEEP Impact 92 and DEEP Jewels 26 preview
DEEP organization brings out their top tier fighters for a stacked double header this holiday Tuesday. The afternoon showcases women’s mma for the 9 bout…
Shooto 30th Anniversary part 7 review
Shooto returned to Korakuen Hall for their 30th Anniversary 7th round event, sponsored by One Championship. While featuring a modest number of fights the event…
Shooto 30th Anniversary Part 7 Preview
Korakuen Hall, the mecca for fight sports in Japan hosts Shooto 30th anniversary part 7 this Sunday. Sponsored by One Championship, Shooto has been…
