Triple Title Matches Headline DEEP's Sixth Anniversary
With the promotion's sixth anniversary on the immediate horizon,
DEEP's executive office has revealed three championship contests to
jumpstart the promotion’s 28th Impact card on Feb. 16 at Korakuen
Hall in Tokyo.
On Thursday, DEEP held a press conference at DEEP Official Gym Impact to officially announce the first series of bouts for its sixth anniversary card. As was anticipated, DEEP president Shigeru Saeki announced that the main event would feature a rematch for DEEP's 181-pound championship between former champion Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) and the man who defeated him for the title, Ryo Chonan (Pictures).
It was originally thought that their rematch would be the headliner for DEEP's Dec. 20 card, however the recently married Chonan opted to take his honeymoon in Fiji, postponing the bout. Their first encounter last Feb. at DEEP's fifth anniversary card ended quickly and unceremoniously, especially for a title bout, after the ringside physician called a halt to the contest just under two minutes into the fight.
Chonan broke Sakurai's nose in the opening moments of the fight with a flurry of punches from the clinch, causing a significant amount of blood to stream from the nose of the then-champion. While the nasal fracture, combined with considerable bleeding, notched him the doctor stoppage victory and the DEEP 181-pound title, Chonan was wholly unsatisfied with his victory. After the bout, Chonan took the house microphone and declared, "I've got the belt, but I'm not a real champion. Let's fight again!"
Chonan's tone had changed by December after Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) made quick work of the novice Geovani Periera at DEEP 27 Impact. Chonan vacated his spot at the Samurai TV commentary booth before taking a house microphone at ringside and curtly telling Sakurai, "I'll destroy you."
Also announced but largely expected was a 154-pound title contest between reigning champion Nobuhiro Obiya (Pictures) and GRABAKA prospect Kazunori Yokota (Pictures). On Dec. 20, Yokota defeated "Barbaro44" Yoshihiro Tomioka (Pictures) in a high-paced and action-packed 154-pound title eliminator. As a result, Saeki's revealing of the bout was a mere formality.
"The lightweight division will be the biggest story this year," Saeki told the media. "Although Obiya has appeared in Bushido twice, he hasn't fought as a champion yet. It's regrettable he hasn't been able to show the same skills he has in DEEP."
Despite his setbacks in the PRIDE ring, Obiya was confident he would emerge victorious, telling the media he would finish off Yokota inside of three minutes. Naturally, Yokota dissented, stating that he has seen what it takes to become a champion from Kazuo Misaki (Pictures), the 2006 PRIDE 183-pound Grand Prix champion, and assured that he would follow in his teammate’s footsteps.
There was some surprise regarding the third title bout, in which 167-pound champion Jutaro Nakao (Pictures) will put his title on the line against Hidehiko Hasegawa (Pictures). While Hasegawa is undefeated in his last five bouts, all in DEEP, Brazilian Fabricio Monteiro (Pictures) soundly defeated Nakao in October. Though DEEP officials had mentioned Hasegawa as a potential candidate to challenge Nakao, it was largely thought that Nakao would rematch Monteiro, who recently defeated former King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures).
In addition to the three title bouts, former DEEP 143-pound title contender Takeshi Yamazaki (Pictures) will meet Pancrase regular Miki Shida (Pictures). The bout, which offers intrigue in the form of a DEEP vs. Pancrase crossover, will be the first for Shida in the ring of DEEP.
Also, Saeki confirmed the participation of DEEP 106-pound women's champion Hisae Watanabe (Pictures). While an opponent has not yet been decided upon for Watanabe, Saeki revealed that he is interested in bringing in a foreign talent, preferably a talented striker who would stand and trade with MMA's KO queen.
On Thursday, DEEP held a press conference at DEEP Official Gym Impact to officially announce the first series of bouts for its sixth anniversary card. As was anticipated, DEEP president Shigeru Saeki announced that the main event would feature a rematch for DEEP's 181-pound championship between former champion Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) and the man who defeated him for the title, Ryo Chonan (Pictures).
It was originally thought that their rematch would be the headliner for DEEP's Dec. 20 card, however the recently married Chonan opted to take his honeymoon in Fiji, postponing the bout. Their first encounter last Feb. at DEEP's fifth anniversary card ended quickly and unceremoniously, especially for a title bout, after the ringside physician called a halt to the contest just under two minutes into the fight.
Chonan broke Sakurai's nose in the opening moments of the fight with a flurry of punches from the clinch, causing a significant amount of blood to stream from the nose of the then-champion. While the nasal fracture, combined with considerable bleeding, notched him the doctor stoppage victory and the DEEP 181-pound title, Chonan was wholly unsatisfied with his victory. After the bout, Chonan took the house microphone and declared, "I've got the belt, but I'm not a real champion. Let's fight again!"
Chonan's tone had changed by December after Ryuta Sakurai (Pictures) made quick work of the novice Geovani Periera at DEEP 27 Impact. Chonan vacated his spot at the Samurai TV commentary booth before taking a house microphone at ringside and curtly telling Sakurai, "I'll destroy you."
Also announced but largely expected was a 154-pound title contest between reigning champion Nobuhiro Obiya (Pictures) and GRABAKA prospect Kazunori Yokota (Pictures). On Dec. 20, Yokota defeated "Barbaro44" Yoshihiro Tomioka (Pictures) in a high-paced and action-packed 154-pound title eliminator. As a result, Saeki's revealing of the bout was a mere formality.
"The lightweight division will be the biggest story this year," Saeki told the media. "Although Obiya has appeared in Bushido twice, he hasn't fought as a champion yet. It's regrettable he hasn't been able to show the same skills he has in DEEP."
Despite his setbacks in the PRIDE ring, Obiya was confident he would emerge victorious, telling the media he would finish off Yokota inside of three minutes. Naturally, Yokota dissented, stating that he has seen what it takes to become a champion from Kazuo Misaki (Pictures), the 2006 PRIDE 183-pound Grand Prix champion, and assured that he would follow in his teammate’s footsteps.
There was some surprise regarding the third title bout, in which 167-pound champion Jutaro Nakao (Pictures) will put his title on the line against Hidehiko Hasegawa (Pictures). While Hasegawa is undefeated in his last five bouts, all in DEEP, Brazilian Fabricio Monteiro (Pictures) soundly defeated Nakao in October. Though DEEP officials had mentioned Hasegawa as a potential candidate to challenge Nakao, it was largely thought that Nakao would rematch Monteiro, who recently defeated former King of Pancrase Kiuma Kunioku (Pictures).
In addition to the three title bouts, former DEEP 143-pound title contender Takeshi Yamazaki (Pictures) will meet Pancrase regular Miki Shida (Pictures). The bout, which offers intrigue in the form of a DEEP vs. Pancrase crossover, will be the first for Shida in the ring of DEEP.
Also, Saeki confirmed the participation of DEEP 106-pound women's champion Hisae Watanabe (Pictures). While an opponent has not yet been decided upon for Watanabe, Saeki revealed that he is interested in bringing in a foreign talent, preferably a talented striker who would stand and trade with MMA's KO queen.
