The first Vale Tudo Japan 2009 press conference was held today in Tokyo where one fight and two participants were announced for the October 30th event by the International Shooto Commission, Shooto promoter Sustain (among others).
5th and 8th generation SHOOTO Lightweight champion Lion Takeshi will take on 4th generation SHOOTO Lightweight champion in Alexandre Franca Nogueira. The two other participants announced for the event are Rumina Sato and Takanori Gomi.
Update: Gomi intends for this to be his last fight in Japan. He says that while fighting overseas after this, he will also try to get the professional surfer license. Gomi wants to fight a strong foreigner at the event.
Update #2: 1. Fights are either 3 5 minute rounds or 5 5 minute rounds.
2. There will be judgment decisions.
3. Knees and stomps to the head of a grounded opponent are legal but not soccer kicks (same as SENGOKU).
Update #3: The card will consist of around 8 fights. Fighters who haven’t fought in Shooto before will also be pursued.
Vale Tudo Japan 2009
Date: October 30th, 2009
Place: JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Fights:
Lion Takeshi vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira
Participants:
Takanori Gomi
Rumina Sato
Possible Participants:
Satoru Kitaoka
Gomi is rumored to have been in talks with both Strikeforce and the UFC, i'm curious to see where he goes and how he'll fit in. He'd be lucky to be in the top 5 in the UFC.
