Leading Shooto promoter Sustain has sown the early seeds of its October 14 card at Pacifico Yokohama.

Shooto world champions Mamoru Yamaguchi (Pictures) and "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures) will be in action, Sustain revealed, in possible title defenses. "Lion" last competed July 21, when he took a unanimous decision victory over American up-and-comer Cole Miller (Pictures). Meanwhile Mamoru is scheduled to compete at Shooto's September 9 Korakuen Hall card against young Lithuanian Erikas Suslovas.

In addition, former Shooto world featherweight champion Ryota Matsune (Pictures), who made his long awaited return to the ring in an outstanding bout against Takeya Mizugaki (Pictures) on July 21, will also compete on the card.

Sustain also officially announced a 154-pound showdown between fast rising star Mizuto Hirota (Pictures) — last year's welterweight rookie champion — and Takashi Nakakura (Pictures).

Hirota last fought in May, dominating Jin Kazeta (Pictures) to a lopsided decision. Nakakura hasn't competed since August of 2005 in Yokohama, where he lost on a doctor stoppage due to a cut against Shooto Pacific-Rim 154 pound ace and PRIDE Bushido star Mitushiro Ishida.

Presently Nakakura and Hirota are ranked fourth and sixth respectively in the Shooto world welterweight rankings, and the winner will take a big leap forward in Shooto's 154-pound class.

The under card also includes two rookie tournament features.

In a 167-pound semifinal bout, Yuki Konishi meets Yoshitaro Niimi, with the winner advancing to face power punching GUTSMAN Shooto Dojo fighter Taisuke Okuno in the finals.

Konishi fought to a draw with Toshihiko Sugimoto in June, while Niimi went to a draw with Akihiro Yamazaki in July. Both men were fortunate enough to draw a pass from promoter Kazuhiro Sakamoto to the next round and will therefore look to make a statement in their bout after needing a stroke of luck to advance to the semifinals.

In what may prove to be the most explosive and exciting rookie tournament final ever, Shooting Gym Yokohama wild child "Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura (Pictures) will square off against heavy hitting Paraestra Sapporo prospect Daisuke Ishizawa (Pictures) in the finals of the 2006 Shooto 143-pound rookie tournament.

Both men advanced to the finals in July, as Ishizawa made a knockout of the year candidate out of Hiroshi Nakamura (Pictures) at Korakuen Hall and "Wicky" blasted his way past Yuji Inoue at Kitazawa Town Hall with heavy ground-and-pound.

Nishiura brings an unorthodox style and explosive aggression, while Ishizawa brings a technical mastery and diverse arsenal of strikes. Both men possess potent knockout power, which may make for one of the most memorable Class B bouts to date.