Kazuki Tokudome to Defend Lightweight Title Against Takasuke Kume at Pancrase 280

Kazuki Tokudome will defend his Pancrase lightweight championship against Takasuke Kume at Pancrase 280 on Sept. 11 at Differ Ariake in Tokyo.

Tokudome has rattled off four consecutive victories since being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship following consecutive defeats to Norman Parke, Yui Chul Nam and Johnny Case. The 29-year-old judo black belt last fought at Pancrase 277 on April 24, when he stopped Akbarh Arreola with first-round punches to retain his lightweight crown. He boasts 11 finishes among his 16 professional wins. Tokudome is the sixth man to carry the lightweight King of Pancrase mantle, along with Isao Kobayashi, Koji Oishi, Maximo Blanco, Katsuya Inoue and Shoji Maruyama.

Kume, 31, will enter the match on the strength of a two-fight winning streak. He last appeared at Pancrase 277 in April, when he walked away with a split decision over Eiji Ishikawa. Kume has secured 11 of his 18 career victories by submission and has never been finished in his 26-fight career. He has won 12 of his past 15 bouts, losing only to the aforementioned Nam (twice) and A-Sol Kwon.