Sakurai Added to Shooto Event
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:37 pm
Shooto promoter Sustain has announced another bout for the May 5 "Shooto Tradition" bill in Tokyo that will pit former Shooto world champion Hayato Sakurai against reigning European Shooto champion David Baron in a 168-pound contest.
Sakurai, 32, last saw action at the inaugural Dream card on March 15. He crushed Hidetaka Monma, finishing him off in 4:12. The bout with Baron will be Sakurai's second in Shooto in the last six years, the most recent being his decision over Shinya Aoki in August 2005.
France's Baron has reigned as the Shooto Europe 168-pound champion since March 2005, when he submitted Finland's Sauli Heilimo. In his most high-profile bout, Baron was defeated in the Pride ring in August 2006 by Takanori Gomi. Since then he has won his last three bouts, including a first-round submission of Niek Tromp in Belgium this past December.
Sustain also announced that a proposed bout between Rumina Sato and Hatsu Hioki will not take place on the card. Hioki was dominant in his March 28 victory over Baret Yoshida, but he reportedly suffered an MCL injury that nixed the Sato bout.
Sato will remain on the bill against an opponent to be determined. Former Shooto world champion "Lion Takeshi" Takeshi Inoue is also scheduled for the card.
Sustain previously announced that the event would feature a fight between Takashi Nakakura and Ganjo Tentsuku for the vacant 154-pound Shooto world title and a 123-pound bout between Yasuhiro Urushitani and Ryuichi Miki.
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