Countdown to Sengoku VII, Live Results and Commentary on Friday Morning
Earlier this week, Jordan Breen reasoned his preference for Sengoku's Featherweight Grand Prix over DREAM's in the Sherdog piece "Coming-Out Party vs. Predictable Coronation." As the title would suggest, Breen cites DREAM's unabashed favoritism of Norifumi Yamamoto and the awkward "KID"-chosen 63kg weight limit - among other factors - as strikes against the name-loaded tourney. But praise was also in order for World Victory Road's relatively unheralded product, which upon closer inspection, is looking like an international featherweight youth movement. To wit:
Sengoku has been a venue in which excellent but underexposed fighters can earn quality purses and face quality opposition. Using a deserving talent like Hatsu Hioki as the domestic poster boy and incorporating outstanding international prospects that have had few opportunities to face top talent thus far -- such as Marlon Sandro, L.C. Davis, Nick Denis and Ronnie Mann -- is masterful. What is also engrossing about the lineup is that any -- or many -- of these prospects may soon be primetime players in the division when you consider the youthful exuberance of the tournament.
. . .
The average age of a Dream featherweight tournament competitor is 27.33 years old. For Sengoku’s 16-man field, it’s 25.5 years, and if you remove the four mid 30s reps -- Hideki Kadowaki, Jong Man Kim, Michihiro Omigawa and Sandro -- the average age of the remaining 12 is a fresh-faced 23.25 years old. Nine of Sengoku’s entrants are 25 years of age or under; it would have been 10 if Nam Phan had not turned 26 on March 13. Dream’s filicidal bracket only had four fighters under 25, and three of them have already been eliminated.
The build-up to DREAM.7 was fantastic; the event, perhaps predictibly, failed to fully deliver on the hype. But I believe the inverse should prove true for Sengoku's "Seventh Battle," which arrives this Friday (HDNet, 3AM ET) with far less fanfare than its FEG-produced doppelganger, but with just as much talent and matchmaking even better suited to create enduring scraps.
BloodyElbow.com will have live play-by-play, commentary and discussion of Sengoku VII on Friday morning, so if you're calling in sick to school or work in exchange for six hours of MMA make sure to join us.
My picks for the full card after the jump; feel free to post yours in the comments. There are no fancy jpeg belts, but locking in your picks now = getting to brag later.
Muhammed Lawal > Ryo Kawamura via TKO, round 1
Jim York > James Thompson via TKO, round 1
Hatsu Hioki > Chris Manuel via decision
Hideki Kadowaki > Nam Phan via TKO, round 2
Marlon Sandro > Matt Jaggers via decision
L.C. Davis > Michihiro Omigawa via decision
Chan Sung Jung > Shintaro Ishiwatari via TKO, round 2
Masanori Kanehara > Jong Man Kim via submission, round 2
Seiya Kawahara > Nick Denis via decision
Tetsuya Yamada > Ronnie Mann via submission, round 1
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I generally agree with those picks, although Mann vs. Tetsuya could go either way. It’ll be interesting to see Mann facing tougher competition.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com

What happened to Jorge Santiago??
Also, definitely feeling the nWo design bite.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
"Hey yo..."
N…W…O!
Good times…
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 18, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Hogan, Razor and Diesel?
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Mar 18, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah.
Hollywood, Hall and Nash!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 18, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Big Sexy has to be one of the most misleading nicknames ever.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I stopped watching pro wrestling before they started going by those names, I think.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Mar 18, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
You missed some very good and entertaining stuff from both WWF/E and WcW.
I stopped watching around the time Benoit and Eddie Geurrero passed away. :(
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 18, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Undertaker shutting Ultimate Warrior in an air-tight coffin did me in.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 18, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh man, I was 8 years old, that was right in my sweet spot. I’ll never forget the casket lid with all the scratchmarks.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice write up Chris, as always.
I think most people knew that DREAM would have the names (but probably less exciting fights) and Sengoku would have the youthful and exciting fights (but not many big names in the weight class).
You may have to take that back
Once they get Kid into the second round vs some of the contenders. I think Kid vs Maeda is dynamite as Kid could stand and bang despite being able to easily take him down and decision him.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
The matchmaking for this tournament is a little more interesting for this GP, I must say. Sandro is the only guy who really has an easy route to the 2nd round.
I know a lot of people don’t pay Sengoku much mind, but they are throwing around lots of money and their developmental efforts are almost without equal. If they can stick around for a couple years, some of the prospects in their pipeline now could turn into really nice stars

Sengoku got that Donpen money.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Ishiwatari is awesome, but I’m taking a flyer on Jung. He’s scrappy as hell and I like what we’ve seen from him so far.
Kanehara-Kim and Kawahara-Denis should be really exciting. I’m even looking forward to Thomspon vs. York.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Denis-Kawahara should produce fireworks. Both guys will be looking for the KO, so it should be pretty exciting.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 18, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Manuel. How old is he? I want to say like 23-24, but I am too lazy to search. Who is gonna help me out?
lol
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 18, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
It doesn’t help that Hioki’s length on the floor allows him to literally smother people with his guard passes. Manuel is going to have a rather tough time.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Mar 18, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
BIG Gym Yoke
according to the Sengoku site.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah – for those who actually have jobs, HDNet will be re-airing Sengoku VII on Friday night at 10 PM ET.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I have work Friday night, but it doesn’t matter because I don’t have HDNet…
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Mar 18, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll be joining you in that boat when I move in a few weeks. Already starting to feel some separation anxiety.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I would be watching
but I’mma be partying in Athens Thursday night/Friday morning. So I don’t think i’ll be here for this one. DVR power
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

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