The big question going around Japan right now revolves around the destination of current PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (Pictures).
"The Fireball Kid" created quite a buzz the last couple of days when rumors starting to circulate among Japanese insiders and message boards alike that he would make a big announcement at the upcoming July 16 HERO'S show in Yokohama arena.
Sources close to Gomi's camp told Sherdog.com that the popular fighter, who still holds the PRIDE 161-pound title, will be present at the event Monday, when he'll more thank likely make his participation in future HERO'S events official.
According to the same sources, details about term of contract or specific dates are not set in stone for the Japanese ace. K-1 promoter Fight Entertainment Group is still contemplating possible scenarios, such as seeding Gomi to the next round of the HERO'S lightweight Grand Prix tournament scheduled for September, or to try to rebuild the almost dead 170-pound HERO'S division with Gomi being the main star.
He would join a division helped by the newly signed ADCC champion and jiu-jitsu wizard Marcelo Garcia (Pictures) and other Japanese standout fighters like Akira Kikuchi (Pictures) and Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures), who were both used before for FEG in the division without much success among their regular fans.
All of this comes hot on the heels from a statement by FEG executive producer Sadaharu Tanigawa regarding some sort of special announcement. Tanigawa hoped to unveil a surprise on the day of the event, which in his words would "change the flow of MMA in Japan."
During the same press conference, Tanigawa added that veteran Japanese icon Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) has also joined HERO'S for a special match against Japanese K-1 veteran turned MMA fighter Taiei Kin (Pictures).
Tanigawa stated that having Tamura under the HERO'S banner opened possibilities for new dream matches, including a possible match between Tamura and controversial HERO'S light heavyweight champion Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures), who is also scheduled to be present next Monday in Yokohama to announce his return for September.
Another PRIDE fighter who has made quite a following in Japan lately and is expected to join HERO'S in the near future is Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures).
Sokoudjou is rumored to make his debut in September against either Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) or Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), who are also scheduled to comeback for the date.
Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) out, Artur Oumakhanov (Pictures) in
Current HERO'S lightweight champion Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) has pulled out of his match against Chute Boxe representative Andre Dida for the upcoming HERO`S lightweight tournament opening round due to an injury.
The Brazilian fighter, who last saw action against Japanese superstar Masato under K-1 Max Rules on June 28, suffered a broken hand in the match that made it impossible for the Brazilian to be present at the HERO'S tournament opening round.
Replacing Calvancanti is ex-Spetsnaz and Sambo champion Arthur Oumakhanov, who is a veteran of Japanese events like Pancrase and Cage Force and has made a cult following in Japan as the next big thing at 155 pounds.
The bout between Oumakhanov and Dida is now officially labeled a "Super Fight," while Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) automatically advanced to the second round on September 17.
While the severity of Calvancanti's injury was undisclosed, the Brazilian champion stated he was hoping to make a quick recovery before the second round in September. FEG was very clear to point out that in case Calvancanti could not make a quick recovery for September, then the winner of Dida and Oumakhanov would take his place in the tournament.
Finally, it's interesting to mention that Ralek Gracie, son of the legendary UFC founder and Gracie jiu-jitsu stylist Rorion Gracie, is making his MMA debut against pro-wrestler turned MMA fighter Katsuyori Shibata.
Shibata trains under Japanese MMA icon Masakatsu Funaki, and prepared for a match that more than likely is going to bring flashbacks from many hardcore fans of the old but eternal "Gracie vs. Japanese Pro-Wrestling" feud.
Fight Card
Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) vs. Taiei Kin (Pictures) (2R at 1R 10 mins/2R 5 mins)
Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures) vs. Shuichiro Katsumura (Pictures)
Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) vs. Bernard Ackah (Pictures)
Ralek Gracie vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Arthur Oumakhanov vs. Andre Dida
Tournament Fights
Caol Uno (Pictures) vs. Katsuhiko Nagata
Hideo Tokoro (Pictures) vs. Kultar Gil
Vitor Ribiero vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (Pictures)
"The Fireball Kid" created quite a buzz the last couple of days when rumors starting to circulate among Japanese insiders and message boards alike that he would make a big announcement at the upcoming July 16 HERO'S show in Yokohama arena.
Sources close to Gomi's camp told Sherdog.com that the popular fighter, who still holds the PRIDE 161-pound title, will be present at the event Monday, when he'll more thank likely make his participation in future HERO'S events official.
According to the same sources, details about term of contract or specific dates are not set in stone for the Japanese ace. K-1 promoter Fight Entertainment Group is still contemplating possible scenarios, such as seeding Gomi to the next round of the HERO'S lightweight Grand Prix tournament scheduled for September, or to try to rebuild the almost dead 170-pound HERO'S division with Gomi being the main star.
He would join a division helped by the newly signed ADCC champion and jiu-jitsu wizard Marcelo Garcia (Pictures) and other Japanese standout fighters like Akira Kikuchi (Pictures) and Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures), who were both used before for FEG in the division without much success among their regular fans.
All of this comes hot on the heels from a statement by FEG executive producer Sadaharu Tanigawa regarding some sort of special announcement. Tanigawa hoped to unveil a surprise on the day of the event, which in his words would "change the flow of MMA in Japan."
During the same press conference, Tanigawa added that veteran Japanese icon Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) has also joined HERO'S for a special match against Japanese K-1 veteran turned MMA fighter Taiei Kin (Pictures).
Tanigawa stated that having Tamura under the HERO'S banner opened possibilities for new dream matches, including a possible match between Tamura and controversial HERO'S light heavyweight champion Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures), who is also scheduled to be present next Monday in Yokohama to announce his return for September.
Another PRIDE fighter who has made quite a following in Japan lately and is expected to join HERO'S in the near future is Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures).
Sokoudjou is rumored to make his debut in September against either Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) or Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), who are also scheduled to comeback for the date.
Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) out, Artur Oumakhanov (Pictures) in
Current HERO'S lightweight champion Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) has pulled out of his match against Chute Boxe representative Andre Dida for the upcoming HERO`S lightweight tournament opening round due to an injury.
The Brazilian fighter, who last saw action against Japanese superstar Masato under K-1 Max Rules on June 28, suffered a broken hand in the match that made it impossible for the Brazilian to be present at the HERO'S tournament opening round.
Replacing Calvancanti is ex-Spetsnaz and Sambo champion Arthur Oumakhanov, who is a veteran of Japanese events like Pancrase and Cage Force and has made a cult following in Japan as the next big thing at 155 pounds.
The bout between Oumakhanov and Dida is now officially labeled a "Super Fight," while Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures) automatically advanced to the second round on September 17.
While the severity of Calvancanti's injury was undisclosed, the Brazilian champion stated he was hoping to make a quick recovery before the second round in September. FEG was very clear to point out that in case Calvancanti could not make a quick recovery for September, then the winner of Dida and Oumakhanov would take his place in the tournament.
Finally, it's interesting to mention that Ralek Gracie, son of the legendary UFC founder and Gracie jiu-jitsu stylist Rorion Gracie, is making his MMA debut against pro-wrestler turned MMA fighter Katsuyori Shibata.
Shibata trains under Japanese MMA icon Masakatsu Funaki, and prepared for a match that more than likely is going to bring flashbacks from many hardcore fans of the old but eternal "Gracie vs. Japanese Pro-Wrestling" feud.
Fight Card
Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures) vs. Taiei Kin (Pictures) (2R at 1R 10 mins/2R 5 mins)
Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures) vs. Shuichiro Katsumura (Pictures)
Melvin Manhoef (Pictures) vs. Bernard Ackah (Pictures)
Ralek Gracie vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Arthur Oumakhanov vs. Andre Dida
Tournament Fights
Caol Uno (Pictures) vs. Katsuhiko Nagata
Hideo Tokoro (Pictures) vs. Kultar Gil
Vitor Ribiero vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (Pictures)