BORDER - 09/23/2012: Full Cards Revealed

This show based in Osaka used to be Shooto event but the promotion decided to take off "Shooto" from the event name and now its called Border.

However, the promotion's positioning within a Japanese MMA world is still remains to be the same.

They are doing bunch of official Shooto fights, and in this event, Shooto's both rookie and Infinity tourney bouts. Border is still one of the "local" events under Shooto where young fighters gets the opportunities. The fighters that wins in Border might get a call to fight in Tokyo. Its a border between local and main Shooto event in Tokyo. 

In fact, the promotion is clearly stating this is "Shooto & Kick Boxing Event".

Then why this event is no longer called Shooto?

Probably, one of the answers to that question is kick boxing bouts.

For Border its not easy to book enough pro MMA fighters in Osaka to promote the fight event on a regular basis and maybe needed the freedom to book kick boxing fights.

When the entire Japanese MMA industry got smaller over the last five years or also, local promoters maybe feeling they have to do something different. The value and a recognition level of traditional old MMA entities like Shooto has declined as well. 

In Japan, what Border is doing is what we may see in the future. Meaning, Border could do Pancrase official fights too. Well, maybe its still highly unlikely but not impossible because MMA has definitely entered a new era. Way past beyond when PRIDE was around.

When "Major League" no longer exists in the market then the time is for the indies. 

Border definitely is one of them.

TK Promotion Presents
BORDER
Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
At Hirano Community Center, Osaka, Japan
Doors Open - 12:30
Fight Starts - 13:00

Confirmed Cards (Subject to Change):

Bantamweight Bout 5 min/ 3R
Kantaro Watanabe (Japan / Chokushin-kai TK68) vs. Nam Jin Ho (Korea / TEAM MAD) 

Welterweight Bout 5 min / 3R
Shinji Sasaki (Japan / BURST) vs. Kota Shimoishi (Japan / MMA Shooto Gym BLOWS)

Featherweight Bout 5 min / 3R
"Yashabo" Ishihara (Japan / Shooto GYMS Chokushin-kai) vs. "Jungle" Ito (Japan / STG Yokohama) 

2012 Infinity Tournament Featherweight Semi-Final Bout 5 min/ 2R
Kosuke "Jukucho" Eda (Japan / MIBUROU) vs. Kenji Yamamoto (Japan / STG Tokyo)

Featherweight Bout 5 min / 2R
TOMA (Japan / Chokusinkai TK 68) vs. Takamasa Miki (Japan / Shoho Taijitsu)

Lightweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Shingo Nakazawa (Japan / Paraestra Osaka) vs. Takashi Maeda (Japan / STG Osaka)

Rookie Tournament Lightweight Third Round Bout 5 min / 2R
Hiroyuki Tanaka (Japan / STG Kobe) vs. Yuta Kiuchi (Japan / Sanshu Shishin-kai)

Rookie Tournament Bantamweight Second Round Bout 5 min / 2R
Yuta Horikawa (Japan / 9'S MMA) vs. "Santouhei" Yokoyama (Japan / BURST)

Rookies Tournament Featherweight Third Round Bout 5 min / 2R
Hidekazu Fukushima (Japan / MMA Shooto Gym BLOWS) vs. Naritoshi Kakuta (Japan / STYLE)

Rookie Tournament Featherweight Third Round Bout 5 min / 2R
Dr. takuya (Japan / BURST) vs. Mamoru Uoi (Japan / Gonz Gym)


Ticket Prices:
SRS - 8,000 yen / RS - 6,000 yen / S - 5,000 yen


Report by Shu Hirata
Poster image courtesy of Border (http://www.border-kakutougi.com/)