Update: Baroni to Make Return in Japan?
Though the first formalized bout on the Sengoku card at Yoyogi
National Stadium First Gymnasium card was announced Dec. 11 by
promoter World Victory Road, it remains unsigned.
According to the promoter, middleweight Phil Baroni (Pictures) is slated to fight Sanae Kikuta (Pictures).
Citing sources inside American Kickboxing Academy, MMAWeekly reported Monday that Baroni would make his return to the ring in Japan following a six-month suspension for steroids. Sherdog.com confirmed on Tuesday that AKA is negotiating on Baroni's behalf, however a deal has not been finalized.
Baroni's longtime agent Ken Pavia told Sherdog.com last Friday that the 31-year-old Baroni is mulling over his options. Asked to comment on MMAWeekly's report, Pavia offered no comment except to say he stood by his comments from Friday.
Sherdog.com has learned that several companies have expressed interest in Baroni's services, including WVR, Strikeforce and EliteXC.
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.
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 knockout 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, 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).
According to the promoter, middleweight Phil Baroni (Pictures) is slated to fight Sanae Kikuta (Pictures).
Citing sources inside American Kickboxing Academy, MMAWeekly reported Monday that Baroni would make his return to the ring in Japan following a six-month suspension for steroids. Sherdog.com confirmed on Tuesday that AKA is negotiating on Baroni's behalf, however a deal has not been finalized.
Baroni's longtime agent Ken Pavia told Sherdog.com last Friday that the 31-year-old Baroni is mulling over his options. Asked to comment on MMAWeekly's report, Pavia offered no comment except to say he stood by his comments from Friday.
Sherdog.com has learned that several companies have expressed interest in Baroni's services, including WVR, Strikeforce and EliteXC.
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.
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 knockout 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, 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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