Though the first formalized bout on the Sengoku card at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium card was announced Friday by promoter World Victory Road, it might not happen.
According to the promoter, middleweight
Phil Baroni (Pictures) was slated to fight
Sanae Kikuta (Pictures). However Baroni's agent, Ken Pavia, told Sherdog.com that the fight has not been signed and the 31-year-old New York is mulling over his options. Baroni has been out of action since testing positive for steroids following his June 2007 loss to
Frank Shamrock (Pictures). In the second round submission defeat, Baroni also sustained a hernia and torn groin which required surgery. The California State Athletic Commission suspended Baroni for six months and fined him $2,500 following an appeal.
Kikuta, 36, has largely filled an elder statesman role in the Japanese MMA community in recent years, which have seen the success of GRABAKA products such as
Akihiro Gono (Pictures) and
Kazuo Misaki (Pictures). The former ADCC champion has fought only once in the last two years, taking a unanimous decision win against Frenchman
Jean Francois Lenogue (Pictures) in Nov. 2006.
Earlier this week, WVR figurehead Naoya Kinoshita stated that he was both active and interested in securing the aforementioned
Kazuo Misaki (Pictures) as well as
Takanori Gomi (Pictures) for the March 5 bill. He has made good on at least part of the statement, by officially announcing the participation of Misaki for the card.
Misaki is coming off a vicious KO victory on New Year's Eve over
Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) on New Year's Eve. No opponent has been named for the former PRIDE 183-pound GP champion.
Sherdog.com also learned that WVR has signed Brazilian standout
Fabricio Monteiro (Pictures) to a four-fight contract. Monteiro gained attention, especially in Japan, in 2006, where he enjoyed a winning streak in DEEP which saw him knock off
Hiroyuki Abe (Pictures) (Hiroyuki Abe (Pictures)' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures),
Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures) and then-champ
Jutaro Nakao (Pictures). "Pitbull" was considerably less successful in 2007 campaign, going 0-2 with stoppage losses to Pancrase-bred stalwart
Satoru Kitaoka (Pictures) and Frenchman
Mohamed Khacha (Pictures). No opponent has been named for the Brazilian.
Still scheduled for competition on the Sengoku card are
Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures),
Makoto Takimoto (Pictures),
Ryo Kawamura (Pictures), Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos and
Siyar Bahadurzada (Pictures).
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