Imanari to Leglock or Abe to Rock and Sock?
TOKYO -- The "Ashikan Judan," Masakazu Imanari (Pictures), is slated to face Abe Ani Combat
Club's Hiroyuki Abe in a
non-title affair at DEEP's October 10 card at Korakuen
Hall, Abe confirmed Friday to Sherdog.com.
Previously mentioned as a participant in DEEP's latest outing, no opponent has yet been officially announced for the sly grappler. Imanari comes off of a harrowing submission win over Jong Man Kim (Pictures) in August's DEEP 31 event, narrowly locking on the armbar before the Korean was able to capitalize off a punch that rocked the DEEP featherweight champion.
Despite having lost three of his last four fights, Abe, a veteran Shootor, will look to replicate this precarious situation for the leg-locking Imanari, as Abe lays claim to hands that have stung many a top fighter in Shooto, such as "Pequeno" Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures), and more recently, "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures).
A win over a highly regarded opponent such as Imanari would serve to put Abe back in the mix of Japan's most prevalent and current crop of fighters.
Headlining the DEEP 32 card is the rematch between Dong Hyun Kim (Pictures) and welterweight champion, Hidehiko Hasegawa (Pictures). Thoroughly defeating Hasegawa on August's DEEP 31 event in a non-title affair, the stakes have been raised for their rematch, as Kim will now look to repeat his performance in order to capture the welterweight championship.
Also on the card, DEEP fan favorite Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) will face Pancrase veteran Eiji Ishikawa (Pictures), while Smack Girl champion Satoko Shinashi (Pictures) fights relative newcomer SACHI, and Shooto and PRIDE Bushido vet Seichi Ikemoto (Pictures) takes on long-time Pancrasiast Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures).
DEEP officials are expected to officially announce the Imanari-Abe bout on Saturday, along with the remainder of the DEEP 32 card, as part of their final lineup for the October 10 event.
Previously mentioned as a participant in DEEP's latest outing, no opponent has yet been officially announced for the sly grappler. Imanari comes off of a harrowing submission win over Jong Man Kim (Pictures) in August's DEEP 31 event, narrowly locking on the armbar before the Korean was able to capitalize off a punch that rocked the DEEP featherweight champion.
Despite having lost three of his last four fights, Abe, a veteran Shootor, will look to replicate this precarious situation for the leg-locking Imanari, as Abe lays claim to hands that have stung many a top fighter in Shooto, such as "Pequeno" Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures), and more recently, "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures).
A win over a highly regarded opponent such as Imanari would serve to put Abe back in the mix of Japan's most prevalent and current crop of fighters.
Headlining the DEEP 32 card is the rematch between Dong Hyun Kim (Pictures) and welterweight champion, Hidehiko Hasegawa (Pictures). Thoroughly defeating Hasegawa on August's DEEP 31 event in a non-title affair, the stakes have been raised for their rematch, as Kim will now look to repeat his performance in order to capture the welterweight championship.
Also on the card, DEEP fan favorite Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) will face Pancrase veteran Eiji Ishikawa (Pictures), while Smack Girl champion Satoko Shinashi (Pictures) fights relative newcomer SACHI, and Shooto and PRIDE Bushido vet Seichi Ikemoto (Pictures) takes on long-time Pancrasiast Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures).
DEEP officials are expected to officially announce the Imanari-Abe bout on Saturday, along with the remainder of the DEEP 32 card, as part of their final lineup for the October 10 event.
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