Despite Indefinite Suspension, Kazuo Misaki Will Fight at Sengoku IX

World Victory Road held a press conference at J-Rock headquarters on Thursday to announce the fate of Kazuo Misaki following last week's guilty plea and probation sentence on a count of interference with a public servant. The short-term good news is that Misaki will still be able to participate in his August 2nd middleweight title eliminator bout with Kaz Nakamura. The bad news, however, is that the Sengoku executive committee has decided that Misaki will be indefinitely suspended beginning August 3rd - meaning Misaki won't get a rematch with Jorge Santiago even if he wins - with his entire purse from the Nakamura fight to be withheld and donated to charity. With this verdict, it seems a fairly safe bet that we'll be seeing the "Grabaka Hitman" back in the Strikeforce cage before long.
0 recs |
6 comments
|
Comments
The old ‘indefinate suspension’. A solid way to appear as though you are taking action against someone without actually taking action. Guaranteed they will review his suspension, comment on his remorse and what he has learnt before removing the suspension in time for his next fight! A good move though.
by GeeDub on Jul 2, 2009 6:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah
this is a classic bandaid.
But the process and humiliation of the public reprimand are punishment in themselves. Not to mention the lost payday. Damn!
I still expect Misaki to beat Nakamura but we’ll see. Not really dying for a rematch of either guy vs Santiago.
I wouldn’t be entirely shocked if Santiago beats Vitor Belfort at Affliction. That will gum up the works for everyone.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jul 2, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn...
I wasn’t expecting that. Yup, he still has a contract with Strikeforce so he whould fight there soon. Misaki is one of their more popular Japanese fighters. I am a bit shocked of how this was handled, though, it shows that Sengoku means business.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 2, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
interference with a public servant
Sounds kinda dirty.
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Jul 2, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by 



![Jorge Santiago In Talks With Strikeforce:
Portal das Lutas – Are you happy in Japan?
Jorge Santiago – I’m stoked in Japan and intend to stay there a good while. I haven’t fought in the United States since 2007, but now with Pezao [Antonio Silva], who also fights in Sengoku, we now have a good opening in Strikeforce. That’s something we started talking about last week and, if all goes well, I’ll start fighting in two countries. It could be I get a shot at Strikeforce, if just because the event will let me fight in Japan too, so I’ll be able to fight the whole year.](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/80113/sf-071116-santiago_small.jpg)

!["I still don't have a definite opponent. The first name that showed up was [Kazuo] Misaki, which would be a rematch, but now they're looking for another Japanese for me to fight. I'm waiting, training for whoever shows up."
- Sengoku middleweight champ Jorge Santiago speaking to Tatame. It was thought that Santiago could face Joe Doerksen at Sengoku 11 on November 7th.](http://cdn2.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/76381/20090105042633_200901042338_small.jpg)












