Shooto 2023 Volume 7. Stunning Back to Back KO’s Cap Off an Entertaining Card
Jo Arai Defeated Wataru Yamauchi by KO (Ground Punch, R3, 2:55) As the highly anticipated main event got underway the opening salvo of strikes belonged…
MMA in Japan
Super Rizin 2 Results. 3 Champions Crowned in Evening of Shocking Finishes!
Vugar Karamov Defeated Mikuru Asakura by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) r1, 2:41 The main event and battle for the Featherweight title commenced with Asakura looking to bait a reaction…
Preview: Rizin vs Bellator 2, Fighters Vie for Flyweight Belt, Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Lightweight Tournament Round 1, Unified Rules, 5M x 5R Roberto Satoshi De Souza. vs Patricky Pitbull With A.J McKee Jr. out due to injury, Rizin’s…
Preview: Super Rizin 2 Pulls Together a Stellar Card Despite Injuries!
With A.J McKee and Kai Asakura out due to injury Rizin have scrambled to find suitable replacements. Hiromasa Ogikubo stepped up as a fitting challenger…
Shooto 2023 Vol.5 Results and Review. Strawweight Championship Ends in Stunning Finish!
Main Event: World Strawweight Championship 5M x 5R Jo Arai Defeated Shuto Aki by TKO, 4:41, R1 (Right Hook, GnP) 2 of the finest strikers in the…
Rizin 43 Results and Review, Foray into Hokkaido Produces Sensational Event!
Rizin’s inaugural Hokkaido event was a memorable one, for all the right reasons. Fans were treated to a sensational event. Match after match the fighters…
Rizin 43 Preview. This Saturday (24th) Broadcast Free on Youtube!
Rizin 43 has been somewhat overshadowed by the colossal Rizin vs Bellator 2 event just around the corner. While not having the star power of…
Shooto 2023 Vol 3. Pivotal “Grappler vs Striker” Main/Co-Main Bouts Nail-Biters. Infinity League Storyline Unfolds.
Shoji Saito Defeated Takuma “The Leg Hunter” Sudo by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) There were no secrets as to both fighters intentions as they…
“COLORS” Shooto’s Inaugural All Women’s Event Launches Sunday 21st
This Sunday, 21st of May, New Pier Hall will host a Shooto double header as MMA’s longest running org ventures once more into all women’s…
Rizin 42 Results, Bantamweight Title Contenders Determined!
Kai Asakura defeated Yuki Motoya by TKO (knee to body, R3, 2:36) In the joint main event to determine who would face Archuleta for the…
Rizin 42, Saturday May 6 preview. Bantamweights Take Centre Stage in Stacked Card!
Main Event: Kai Asakura vs Yuki Motoya – 61kg (134,5 pounds) A perennial contender Yuki Motoya has been on a tear in Rizin as of…
Rizin Landmark 5 Results and Review
Mikuru Asakura defeated Juntaro “Fighting Bull” Ushiku by decision (3-0) The main event got underway as Ushiku chipped away at the legs, firing off single…
Rizin Landmark 5 in 24hrs, 9 Caged MMA Bouts of Fine Matchmaking!
Juntaro Ushiku vs Mikuru Asakura It is somewhat surprising, given their collective levels, that Juntaro Ushiku and Mikuru Asakura have not crossed paths. A former…
Shooto 2023 Volume 2 Results, Brutal KO Caps Off Night of Finishes
Main Event – Match 8: World Featherweight Championship 5 min 5 R Keisuke “Sasake” Sasu defeated Takeo Iida by KO (Spinning Back Elbow 1:49 R2)…
Shooto 2023 Vol 2 Preview,
Shooto continues to go from strength to strength, their reputation souring on the heels of sensational recent events. 2023 Volume 2 promises to keep the…
“Zombie” Ayaka Miura Returns from Injury to Grapple Danielle Kelly at One Fight Night 7
Main Image: Ayaka Miura efficiently utilizing her trademark “Kesa Gatame” Scarf hold. It has been a turbulent year for Ayaka “Zombie” Miura. After utilizing her signature…
Shooto 2023 Vol 1 Results, Shocks, Surprises and Sensational matches in a Night of Finishes!
Main Event – Match 9: Featherweight, 5 min 3 Takuya Yamamoto defeated Dericott Kento Yamamoto by KO, 0:27 R2 To the delight of fans the highly…
Shooto 2023 Opening Round, 4 Rookie Champions Crowned!
For their first venture into 2023, Shooto once again broadcast live from Korakuen Hall, a venue synonymous with combat sports. Their January 15th offering appears…
Pancrase 330, Scintillating Christmas Event a Gift for MMA Fans
Christmas Day is not a time traditionally associated with Mixed Martial Arts. That did not stop one of the world’s oldest and most respected orgs,…
Rizin New Years Eve Targets Hardcore Fans, Finalises Stellar Card
“Solid fights for the hardcore fans on NYE” Like its predecessors Rizin has traditionally relied on an eclectic blend of spectacle and sport. Drawing in…
Shooto 2022 Vol.7, Fujii and Ishii Go to War For the Bantamweight Title.
Wataru Yamauchi Defeated Kiyotaka Shimizu by KO (0:44, R1) Respecting his status as a mma pioneer, the main event was reserved for battle tested 43…
Rizin 38 Results. Kyoji Horiguchi Returns, Women’s Super Atomweight Finals Set
Kyoji Horiguchi defeated Yuto “Kintaro” Hokamura by submission (head and arm choke, 2R, 2:59) MMA royalty Horiguchi made his return to Rizin for the first…
Super Rizin! Results. Mayweather vs. Asakura Delivers!
No Winner. Floyd Mayweather Finished Mikuru Asakura (Referee Stoppage, 2R, 3:15) Fans were on the edge of their seats for the highly anticipated main event…
Shooto 2022 Vol 6, Monday 19th. Flyweight Title Match Highlights Competitive 10 Bout Card
All eyes will be on the Flyweights Monday evening as 2 unbreakable spirits collide for the Shooto 2022 Volume 6 main event. Korakuen Hall, the…
Shooto 2022 Vol 3 Results and Review.
MAIN EVENT, Pacific Rim Bantamweight Championship, 5 Min x 3 Rounds Hayato Ishii Defeated Kota Onojima (Decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Hard work really paid off…
Pancrase Embraces WADA Accredited PED Testing for Championship Bouts
Performance Enhancing Drug testing has always been a hot topic for MMA in Japan. Where individual combat sports such as Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Karate and…
Shooto 2022 Volume 1 Results. Bantamweight Pacific Rim Champion Crowned. Top Prospects Continue Ascent.
Main Event – 11th Match: Pacific Rim Bantamweight Championship, 5min 3R Kota Onojima Defeated Nobuki Fujii (Unanimous Decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28) An intriguing main event…
Shooto 2022 Volume1, Sunday 16th, Generations Clash as Seasoned Veterans and Hot Prospects Collide
Kicking off the year in style, Shooto 2022 volume 1 has brought together 12 scintillating matches showcasing a host of their brightest and best. In…
VTJ 2021 Results. Vale Tudo Japan Returns Following a 5 Year Hiatus!
Tatsuro Taira defeated Alfredo “Mono Con Navaja” Muaiad (Submission, RnC, 4:10, R1) Shooto Flyweight Champion Taira once again put his formidable power on display early as he…
Shooto 2021 Vol 7 Results, 2 Champions Crowned in Afternoon of Fast Paced Fights
Shooto World Super Atomweight Championship Match, 5M x 5R Satomi “Sarami” Takano defeated Mina Kurobe (Unanimous Decision, 49-45, 49-46, 48, 47) Kurobe wasted little time in…
Shooto 2021 Volume 7 Preview, November 6th. Double Championship Headliner!
With the revival of first Vale Tudo Japan after a 5 year hiatus, Shooto further upped the ante, slotting in Shooto 2021 Volume 7 earlier…
Shooto GIG Tokyo Vol.31 results and review
Shinjuku Face played host to “SHOOTO GIG TOKYO Vol.31 Supported by ONE Championship,” Saturday, October 2nd. Smaller in scale than typical Shooto events, the “SHOOTO…
Shooto 2021 Volume 6, Results and Review
Main Event: Shooto Lightweight Title Match, 5M x 5R Yamato Nishikawa defeated Yuki “Tencho” Kawana by TKO (Doctor Stoppage, 0:43, R5) With experience and maturity…
Shooto 2021 Vol 5 results. “Sasuke” vs. Kudo Featherweight Title Match Goes Down to the Wire
Shooto Featherweight Division is a shark pool of talent. For the main event of Shooto 2021 Volume 5, 2 evenly matched warriors who have both…
Rizin 29 Results! 4 Progress to GP Quarterfinals. One Night Kickboxing Tournament Winner Crowned
Match 13: Rizin KICK One Night Tournament Final, 3M x 3R, 61kg Taiju Shiratori defeated Koji “Kouzi” Tanaka by decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) In the final…
Rizin 29 Preview, Bantamweight GP Continues, Plus 4 man One Night Kickboxing Tournament!
Just 2 weeks removed from their outstanding Tokyo Dome show Rizin is back! This Sunday, 27th, Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka hosts Rizin 29, featuring…
Rizin 28 Returns to Tokyo Dome in Sensational Style! Lightweight Champion Crowned, Knock Outs, Submissions, Back and Forth Wars
The return of MMA to the monumental Tokyo Dome after 18 years was met with great anticipation. From the opening flames, lights and fireworks to…
Rizin 28 Card Finalized, Tenshin to Face 3 Consecutive Opponents!
Main Event, RIZIN MMA Rule With Elbows: 5 minutes 3R (66.0kg) Flamboyant submission specialist Kleber Koike Erbst faces cerebral striker Mikuru Asakura in the main event….
Pancrase 321 Results and Review
Main Event – Featherweight King of Pancrase Championship, 5 minutes x 5 rounds Isao “ISAO” Kobayashi defeated Taichi Nakajima (unanimous decision, 50-45, 49-46, 49-46) For his 3rd title defence dominant champion…
Pancrase 321 Preview, Sunday 30th, Studio Coast
Pancrase have pulled out all the stops for their first numbered series of the year. Hosted by Studio Coast, a venue familiar with fans of…
Shooto 2021 Volume 3 Results and Review
Main Event, Featherweight 5min x 3R Yamato Nishikawa defeated Nobumitsu “Tyson” Osawa by submission (Triangle Choke, R2 4:53) A few solid calf kicks from powerhouse “Tyson” as the round…
RIZIN 29 Postponed until June 27th
Set for May 30th, RIZIN.29 in Osaka has been postponed until June 27th. The State of Emergency declared by Japanese Government in response to the surging…
Shooto 2021 Volume 3, March 16th, Preview
Old generation and new converge at Shooto 2021 Volume 3, this Sunday, 17:00 JST. Korakuen Hall, a venue synonymous with Martial Arts in Japan, once…
Rizin GP 2021 Bantamweight Tournament Matches, Fighters Announced
Rizin dropped some big news at their press conference with the conformation of their 16 man Bantamweight GP. Participants were in attendance and introduced before…
Rizin 27 Results and Review
Rizin has a knack of finding talented, diverse and exciting fighters. Matching them up perfectly for guaranteed “edge of your seat” entertainment. Rizin 27 continued the…
Shooto 2021 Volume 2, Results and Review
Main Event Bantamweight Championship Match 5M x 5R Ryo Okada defeated Takafumi Otsuka (Dec 29-26, 28-27, 50-45) As the title match got underway you could…
Shooto 2021 Volume 2 Preview
Korakuen Hall, a venue entrenched in Martial Arts history, hosts Shooto 2021 Volume 2 this Saturday, March 20th. Due to Covid-19 precautionary measures the event…
Takafumi Otsuka Set to Take Over Shooto Bantamweight Division Following Sensational Debut.
A Rendezvous at T-Grip Gym, Tokyo Gaining in notoriety and reputation, Tokyo’s T-Grip gym sits in a prime location just a short walk from Takadanobaba…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Japan Experience Documentary
Andy Main 12-4-1, 1 NC (Win-Loss-Draw) is a world class Martial Artist, MMA Champion, and business man. He fights out of his dojo named Pure…
SHINYA AOKI TO DEFEND ONE LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST CHRISTIAN LEE AT ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON
SHINYA AOKI TO DEFEND ONE LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST CHRISTIAN LEE AT ONE: ENTER THE DRAGONSAGE NORTHCUTT SET FOR ONE CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT AGAINST COSMO ALEXANDRE…
Shooto 3/24 30th Anniversary Event
Shooto kicked off part 2 of their 30th anniversary tour at Tokyo’s New Pier Hall on Sunday delievering a solid 16 fight card that had…
Deep 88 Impact Results and Review
*This article was written by Peter Leghorn (peterleghorn@hotmail.com) and used with his permission. Photography by J. Deschner. DEEP brought out their top talent on…
One FC Announces Their First Event in Japan On March 31st, 2019
Sorry we only have this information in Japanese. More to come later. ONE CHAMPIONSHIPは２０１９年３月に東京で開催する総合格闘技のライブイベントを公式に発表いたします。 ONE CHAMPIONSHIPは２０１９年に予定している最初の２４のイベントを発表いたします。 東京の記者会見に登場するONE CHAMPIONSHIPのスーパースター …
Ganryujima Moat Fights Tournament 9/17/2018
Wake the kids and phone the neighbors! We just got the announcement of a new Ganryujima Tournament coming to Maihama Arena on September 17, 2018!…
Pancrase 296 Review
Last Sunday we had the honor to be there live at Pancrase 296. It was held at the tremendous Studio Coast in Shin-Kiba. This is…
Shooto Korakuen Hall 3/25 Results
This weekend saw a strong Shooto card at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The main event featured lightweight champion Koshi Matsumoto defending his title against Yuki…
Pancrase 293 Results and Review
Pancrase kicked off their 2018 season with a spectacular event and in a new venue as well. Last year on February 3rd, it was brought…
Professional Shooto 1/28/2018
On January 28th of 2018, Professional Shooto kicked off their 2018 MMA even season at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. There were 8 fights on the…
