JMMA Updates (3/11)

Last Updated on Friday, 11 March 2011 16:17 Friday, 11 March 2011 15:37

Written by EK

Our thoughts go out to all those in Japan who are affect by the Earthquake/Tsunami

As previously reported here at LiverKick, Japanese discount chain Don Quijote ended their sponsorship of Sengoku. This could very well mark the end of Japan's second largest MMA promotion. They may still run scaled-down shows but the future doesn't look good. However, Don Quijote will continue to support Pancrase (as they are a controlling partner) and Shooto.

Former Pride Fighting Championship Execs Nobuyuki Sakakibara and Hiroyuki Kato's Japan Cup Bantamweight Grand Prix is rumored to begin April 18th. The winner will reportedly move on to compete in DREAM’s world bantamweight tournament.

Popular Japanese MMA and Pro-Wrestling magazine Kamipro will cease operations.

DEEP announced a bunch of additions to their 4/22 DEEP IMPACT 53 show. The big name added is Eiji Mitsuoka (16-7-2), who'll make his return to DEEP for the first time since July of 2003. Yoshido Dojo fighter Tatsumitsu Wada (4-6-1) will face Mach Dojo's Yoshiki Harada (4-0). Former DEEP Welterweight champ Hidehiko Hasegawa (18-14-6), Yasuaki Kishimoto (13-2-3), Seichi Ikemoto (19-17-5), Yasushi Kitazaki (11-7-1), and undefeated DEEP Future King Yutaka Ueda (6-0) will all participate.

Tony Loiseleur from Sherdog published a fascinating article on Shooto. A very interesting read. Inside Shooto’s Scandal, Legacy and Future.

Valkyrie Featherweight Champion Mei "V.V" Yamaguchi (6-2-1) vs. WINDY Tomomi (16-12-1) has been added to the Pancrase 4/3 show.

Of course, the Jewels, Pancrase and Shooto shows scheduled for this weekend have all been postponed due to the situation in Japan.

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