Home Categories Miscellaneous The FightLockdown Forecast - Sengoku XII
The FightLockdown Forecast - Sengoku XII
Written by Miles Hackett   
Saturday, 06 March 2010 18:09
Tomorrow the folks over at WVR and HDNet will be bringing us their twelfth event in the Sengoku Raiden Championships. While the card may not have the star power that the WEC’s boasts, there are certainly some interesting match-ups that have the potential to be exciting encounters. Providing your forecast tonight are Jamie Hughes, Jack Barrington, and Miles Hackett!



Jorge Santiago vs. Mamed Khalidov (MW championship)

Jamie Hughes: In this fight, Khalidov has the momentum coming in after stopping Santiago in their previous bout. Mamed has power on the feet and a decent ground game, but I feel Santiago will use his more well-rounded skills, specifically his superior ground game to his advantage this time round. That said, Jorge will have to be very aware of Khalidov’s power when the fight is standing. Winner via 2nd round Submission: Jorge Santiago.

Jack Barrington: Given the way their last fight went, I'm not really sure how much we can take from it, in all honesty. Khalidov picked up the win, but given the circumstances surrounding the stoppage, it may prove to be a bad idea to gather too much from their last meeting. I think Santiago will be more cautious this time around, and if he can get this to the mat, and keep his head once they are there, then he can have a lot of success. Santiago's class will show, and he'll stop Khalidov with strikes on the ground in the second. Winner via 2nd round (T)KO: Jorge Santiago.

Miles Hackett: Sometimes in mixed martial arts, great fighters lose to opposition that they should but cannot seem to overcome. Matt Hughes/Dennis Hallman is probably the best instance of this in the sport, where a good journeyman managed to momentarily spoil the momentum of a developing superstar. But will Mamed Khalidov be that figure to Jorge Santiago? In my opinion, it’s very possible. Khalidov has a better chance than I think most people give him, as he has a superior kicking game to that of Santiago and obviously the power to put him away.  Not only that, but he’s entering this rematch with confidence knowing that he can stop Jorge, which is certainly an advantageous mentality. While Santiago has a chin that could limit the potential of his career, there is no denying that he has the technical ability to beat Khalidov on the ground. In their last meeting he left himself open and was punished accordingly, but this time, I feel he will be much more respectful of Khalidov’s guard, and therefore more patient and efficient when he finds himself in it. I would not be surprised if Jorge is a little more tentative than usual in the early stages of this fight, but I think he will pick-up steam as his confidence grows, retaining his title by ending the fight in the third. Winner via 3rd round Submission: Jorge Santiago.


The Final Forecast: Jorge Santiago avenges his previous defeat, defending his crown and re-establishing his momentum in the top 10 of the MW rankings.



Yuji Hoshino vs. Nick Denis

Jamie: This fight for me is Denis’ to lose. The Canadian product holds a significant advantage in all areas, as he will have too much power standing and is also more than capable on the ground, At the end of the day, I’m going with an early TKO finish from Denis. Winner via 1st round (T)KO: Nick Denis.

Jack: This fight will be fun while it lasts. I say that as I don't see it being all too competitive. Denis holds a definitive advantage here, in terms of skill and more importantly, that killer instinct. He's the better striker, and I think he impresses again here, with an early stoppage victory.
Winner via 1st round (T)KO: Nick Denis.

Miles: Nick Denis had his first taste of defeat in his first meeting with a top 10 featherweight (Marlon Sandro) back in May, but he returns to SRC to take on Yuji Hoshino. Hoshino’s a very good ground fighter, but the same cannot be really said for his stand-up, as he doesn’t tuck his chin, which is very important if you fight tall. Denis will likely employ a sprawl and brawl strategy, avoiding the crafty ground skills of Hoshino, while picking him apart on the feet. I think he’ll eventually catch Hoshino dropping his hands in an exchange mid-way through the fight. Winner via 2nd round (T)KO: Nick Denis.


The Final Forecast: Nick Denis returns to his winning ways under the Sengoku banner.


Shigeki Osawa vs. Kyung Ho Kang

Jamie: I expect this to be a very close fight as both fighters are at similar points in their careers and are looking to push on in Sengoku. I can see Osawa having a little bit too much for Kang, edging a very close decision. Winner via Unanimous Decision: Shigeki Osawa.

Jack: After picking up his first loss last year to Ronnie Mann, Osawa will be looking to bounce back with an impressive performance. I'm not sure how impressed we will be, as this one may be close and very scrappy. Osawa, however, will decide where this fight takes place, and will grind out Kyung Ho Kang for a clear decision win. Winner via Unanimous Decision: Shigeki Osawa.

Miles: Despite losing to Ronnie Mann at SRC 11, I was really impressed with Osawa’s ability to not only get takedowns, but to avoid the more experienced fighter’s submissions with only 7 months of professional training. With that said, his style is more suited to the 10-point must system of the North American MMA culture, and as a result, I feel that his nonthreatening stand-up and his lack of a submission game will hurt his favour with the Japanese judges -- who determine the winner of a fight by assessing who was the closest to finishing it. Personally, I feel that Kang has more ways to win the fight and consequently more ways to impress the panel, seeing as he has proven himself capable of ending a fight with strikes and he has a submission game to fall back upon, should he find himself fighting from his guard. To the North American eye, Osawa should win, but from the Eastern perspective Kang will get the nod. Winner via Split Decision: Kyung Ho Kang.


The Final Forecast: Shigeki Osawa outhussles the game Kang via scorecards.


Tomonari Kanomata vs. Marlon Sandro

Jamie: For this fight Sandro holds the advantage in the skill department in most areas and should pick up a stoppage victory, but Kanomata is tough to finish and could end up taking Sandro to a decision. Winner via Unanimous Decision: Marlon Sandro.

Jack: I have a feeling that Sandro is going to impress here, he is still without a definitive loss, and looked good in his fight, at Sengoku 11. Kanomata meanwhile is coming off a close yet impressive win over Shigeyuki Uchiyama, only a month ago at Pancrase - Passion Tour 1. I feel the lack of time between fights will hurt him here, and Sandro will stop a tired Kanomata from top position, late on in the second. Winner via 1st round (T)KO: Marlon Sandro.

Miles: This isn’t a very warm welcome for Kanomata to World Victory Road. Marlon Sandro has the edge in all areas of this fight and I cannot see it going outside of the first. Winner via 1st round (T)KO: Marlon Sandro.


The Final Forecast: Marlon Sandro welcomes Kanomata to Sengoku by knocking his lights out.


Kiuma Kunioku vs. Leonardo Santos

Jamie: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Leonardo Santos.

Jack: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Leonardo Santos.

Miles: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Kiuma Kunioku.


The Final Forecast: Santos outgrapples Kunioku for a clear-cut decision.


Maximo Blanco vs. Chang Hyun Kim

Jamie: Winner via 2nd round Submission: Chang Hyun Kim.

Jack: Winner via 2nd round Submission: Chang Hyun Kim.

Miles: Winner via 2nd round Submission: Chang Hyun Kim.


The Final Forecast: Maximo Blanco’s wild ring antics will get him in trouble again, as Kim walks away with a submission after weathering an early storm.


Akihiro Gono vs. Diego Gonzalez

Jamie: Winner via 1st round Submission: Akihiro Gono.

Jack: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Akihiro Gono.

Miles: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Akihiro Gono.


The Final Forecast: Akihiro Gono continues to rebuild his career in Japan by taking out Diego Gonzalez.


Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Henry Armstrong Miller

Jamie: Winner via Unanimous Decision: Yoshihiro Nakao.

Jack: Winner via 1st round (T)KO: Yoshihiro Nakao.

Miles: Winner via 2nd round (T)KO: Yoshihiro Nakao.


The Final Forecast:  This has the potential to be either the worst or the greatest freakshow fight of 2010, Nakao with the na-kao-t.