By Ray Hui
- Editor
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World Victory Road announced Wednesday during Sengoku 10 that it's New Year event this year will happen on New Year's Eve -- directly against its No. 1 competitor FEG's event, "Dynamite!! 2009."
The promotion had been deciding between New Year's Eve or Jan. 3, and last year avoided going head-to-head against Dynamite!! by booking "Sengoku No Ran" on Sunday, Jan. 4. Perhaps the big name signing of 2008 Olympic judo gold medalist
Satoshi Ishii has given the promotion the confidence to run a show on the most important television date of the year in Japan. Ishii will make his MMA debut at the event against 1994 gold medalist
Hidehiko Yoshida.
Also announced during Sengoku 10 is a featherweight bout between GP finalist Michihiro Omigawa and Hatsu Hioki for
Sengoku 11 on Nov. 7 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. Hioki qualified for the Featherweight GP Final at Sengoku 9 by beating Masanori Kanehara but suffered a concussion, creating an opening for Kanehara to return and beat Omigawa to win the championship. This leaves Marlon Sandro likely to face the newly-signed Cage Force champion Yuji Hoshino at the event. One of the winners will face Kanehara for the Sengoku belt on New Year's Eve.
Sengoku will change its name to "Sengoku Raiden Championship," which tacks on the a word meaning thunder (rai) and lightning (den).
Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago and Akihiro Gono confirmed their participation at Nov. 7. Strikeforce light heavyweight Kevin Randleman was not present but was previously announced to fight.
Sengoku 11:
Hatsu Hioki vs. Michihiro Omigawa
Marlon Sandro vs. TBA
Yuji Hoshino vs. TBA
Jorge Santiago vs. TBA
Kevin Randleman vs. TBA
Akihiro Gono vs. TBA
Sengoku on New Year's Eve:
Satoshi Ishii vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
Read More: hidehikoyoshida, satoshiishii, sengoku 11, sengoku11, Hidehiko Yoshida (MMA), Satoshi Ishii (MMA)
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