On the latest episode of HDNet’s Inside MMA, originally aired on March 14, the word is that Pancrase and PRIDE veteran Kazuo Misaki has signed a 2-fight deal with Strikeforce. His first fight for the San Jose-based promotion will also be the middleweight’s first appearance in North America.
Misaki’s last fight ended with a guillotine victory over Afghan fighter Siyar Bahadurzada at World Victory Road’s inaugural event. Misaki’s most noteworthy recent fight however was his controversial bout with Yoshihiro Akiyama at Yarrenoka! on NYE ‘07. Originally ruled a win over the oft-vilified Akiyama, the fight-ending soccer kick was later ruled illegal and the bout called a No Contest.
Misaki is no stranger to the big stage with victories over big names such as Dan Henderson, Denis Kang and Phil Baroni. He also has losses to Ricardo Almeida and Nate Marquardt on his ledger and fought Jake Shields to a draw in 2003. The middleweight division is a strength of the Strikeforce’s stable of fighters, including the headliners for the promotion’s huge March 29 event, Frank Shamrock and Cung Le. A rematch with Baroni is also possible.
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