Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinals Set

by Chris Nelson on May 18, 2009 7:31 AM EDT in News Comment 14 comments

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Just as MMA Weekly did last week with DREAM's welterweight tourney matchups, Brazilian news site Tatame has spoiled Sengoku's plans to announce the pairings for the final round of its Featherweight Grand Prix later this week. (Still to be announced: Satoru Kitaoka's opponent for the same show.) Undefeated Featherweight King of Pancrase Marlon Sandro (14-0) has drawn a bout with the tournament's surging dark horse, Michihiro Omigawa (6-7-1), for the August 2nd show. Sandro has absorbed little damage thus far in the tournament, easily handling Matt Jaggers in the first round, and demolishing the previously unbeaten Nick Denis with a 19-second knockout at Sengoku VIII. Sandro tells Tatame:

"It was wonderful... My goal is to end the fights the faster possible in every fight. The faster the fights end, better to me. With two fights in the same night, I need to be fast in the first one. I want to knock him out or submit fast, I’m training to fight eight rounds in two fights"

But the scrappy Omigawa hasn't been finished since his first two professional fights back in 2005, and has seemingly been reborn as a featherweight (or "bantherweight") while running this bracket. Despite entering the tournament in a 0-3-1 skid, Omigawa upset a heavily favored L.C. Davis before mugging Nam Phan in the second round.

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This news means the other semifinal match will pit WVR poster boy Hatsu Hioki (19-3-2) against Masanori Kanehara (13-5-5). Most agreed that Hioki was handed a #16 seed in the opening round, matched against the relatively green ATT product Chris Manuel, whom Hioki armbarred in the first round. The "Son of Shooto" was expected to have a slightly tougher time against Ronnie Mann in the quarterfinals, but ended that fight even more decisively than the first. The ZST veteran Kanehara, meanwhile, has decisioned two Korean fighters: first Jong Man Kim in a somewhat one-sided affair, then "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung in a decision which some fans are still questioning weeks later.

No reserve fight was announced, but Jung, Denis and Jaggers have been mentioned as possible participants.

Sengoku IX
August 2, 2009
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan

Sengoku Lightweight Title Bout
Satoru Kitaoka (24-8-9) vs. TBA (Mizuto Hirota?)

Sengoku Featherweight GP Semifinals
Hatsu Hioki (19-3-2) vs. Masanori Kanehara (13-5-5)
Marlon Sandro (14-0) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (6-7-1)

Hioki/Kanehara vs. Sandro/Omigawa

Sengoku Gold Cup Finals
Bantamweight (60kg / 132 lbs) Finals
Featherweight (65kg / 143 lbs) Finals
Lightweight (70kg / 154 lbs) Finals

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Comments

Hioki will completely run over Kanehara but picking Omigawa/Sandro is a toughie. Does Omigawa want to get in the clinch and try to judo-ragdoll Sandro and use top position grappling or is he content on slugging it out on the feet? Both have shown that they have decent hands.

Either way I taking Hioki to win the whole thing.

by Tonley on May 18, 2009 7:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Hioki should win the entire tournament. He would be the favorite. The pairings greatly increase his chances. He should be much freshed for the finals.

by AlwaysRelaxing on May 18, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m a bit reluctant to pick Hioki if Omigawa is once again impressive in using his deceptive strength. The only real problem is that Omigawa would have to avoid Hioki’s ground game and try to remain out of the guard. His power at 145 is very deceptive however. He just toppled Davis and Phan, but I agree… Hioki vs. Omigawa isn’t good for Omigawa, and Sandro vs. Hioki isn’t great either. Sandro vs. Omigawa is a great matchup though.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 18, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMIGAWA BITCHES

Don’t you dare doubt the man haters!

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 18, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can’t even bet against him anymore. He’s screwing me over. I might as well just stay away from his lines.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 18, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is the first fight of this tournament where I think Omigawa should be the favorite.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 18, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Omigawa can outmuscle Sandro in the clinch and get it to the floor while keeping top position I think he can take this fight. Trying to slug it out with Sandro isn’t necessarily a bad idea but if you leave yourself open to being taken down then your in for a world of hur…ground control.

Hioki should take care of Kanehara provided he doesn’t fall in love with his hands like he has been known for on occasions.

The final I think will be Omigawa/Hioki with Omigawa keeping distance and slugging, and when/if the fight hits the ground, Omigawa will stay conservative and eke out a decision.

Lettuce ride the "Omigawa – “FUCK YOU!”" Bandwagon.

by SamCupitt on May 18, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with your analysis for the most part, but Omigawa will have a hard time eeking out a decision on the floor with Hioki if he advances. Hioki’s length is a huge problem. I think that’s the right gameplan though.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 18, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Omigawa winning this tournament would kick ass.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on May 18, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More proof that records don't mean all that much.

Omigawa will be just above .500 if he wins out, and 1/2 of his wins will have been from the tournament.

by Chris Nelson on May 18, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep. I’m guilty of judging him.

To be honest I had no idea who Omigawa was at the beginning of the tournament. All I saw was a guy with a sub-.500 record going against a guy I considered to be on the come up. I really believed LC would put him away early.

by Tonley on May 18, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think many (if any) called Omigawa pulling out that win, and not just because of his record.
Who knew Omigawa would turn into an angry beast at featherweight? Certainly not L.C. Davis.

by Chris Nelson on May 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he has a massive chip on his shoulder and has this enormous urge to prove everyone wrong. Telling everyone to fuck off after defeating LC Davis gives that impression. He has the hunger for sure, and it isn’t some kind of overly aggressive hunger either. He truly works solid gameplans, and as Breen stated in one of his pieces awhile back, gameplanning isn’t necessarily something Japanese fighters do that often.

Lighting a fire under Omigawa’s ass is tremendously satisfying to see. He’s beastly at 145, and his toppling strength is impressive to say the least. LC Davis was absolutely overwhelmed by it, and Phan also got toppled in the clinch. Sandro isn’t a huge guy either, and I could see more of the same thing happening to him.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 18, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In regards to his record, keep in mind his first two fights were against Aaron Riley and JZ at 155, and he fought Thiago Tavares and Matt Wiman in the UFC at 155.

He has fought top competition a weight class up from his own his whole career. Its no wonder why he is a beast now that he has some experience, a more well rounded game, and no size disadvantage to deal with

by Flyghtt on May 18, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs