PANCRASE - 08/05/2012: Yoshiki Takahashi Back In Pancrase

43-year old UFC, PRIDE and Sengoku veteran Yoshiki Takahashi will be back in Pancrase for the first time since 2005.The very first King of Pancraes heavyweight title holder Yoshiki Takahashi will be back fighting in the Pancrase ring for a first time in seven years.

Pancrase added two more fight cards for the upcoming August show at Differ Ariake.

Takahashi, who is also known among the Japanese MMA fans as the very first Japanese fighter to score a win in the UFC, is going to face Yuji Sakuragi in a light-heavyweight bout.

Takahashi is originated from amateur wrestling but in the MMA he is known as a brawler, and Sakurai is originated from karate so he is definitely a striker. However when these two met back in July 2005, Takahashi took the fight to the ground and submitted Sakuragi with an armbar. After the fight, PRIDE / Sengoku veteran told the reporters, "I wanted to exchange punches with Sakuragi. There isn't much Japanese fighters out there that can brawl with me. So I regret about that."

If Takahashi is still feeling the same, this time, we can expect them to go toe-to-toe from the very beginning.

Another fight added is a flyweight title match qualifier between Takuya Eisumi and Masakazu Utsuki. These two fought to a draw in January so this is a rematch, and the winner will challenge Mitsuhisa Sunabe for KOP flyweight title.

PANCRASE 2012 PROGRESS TOUR
Sunday, August 5th, 2012 
At Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan, 14：45 - 15：30
Door Open - 14:45 / Fight Starts - 15:30 

Confirmed Cards (Subject to Change):

Bantamweight Bout 5 min / 3R
Sojiro Orui (Japan / TRIBE TOKYO M.M.A.) vs. Akihiro Murayama (Japan / GUTSMAN)

Light-heavyweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Yoshiki Takahashi (Japan / D-ONE Gym) vs. Yuji Sakuragi (Japan / Seiken Kaikan)

Lightweight Bout 5 min / 3R
Kazuki Tokudome (Japan / Paraestra Hachiouji) vs. Kengo "URAKEN" Ura (Japan / Team ura-ken)

Flyweight Title Match Qualifier 5 min / 3R
Takuya Eizumi (Japan / Bumon-kai) vs. Masakazu Utsuki (Japan / Paraestra Furukawa)

Featherweight Bout 5 min / 3R
Joh Shores (USA / Rodeo Style) vs. Guy Delumeau (USA / GUTSMAN)

Light-heavyweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Yoshiki Takahashi (Japan / D-ONE Gym) vs. Yuji Sakuragi (Japan / Seiken Kaikan)

Lightweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Takafumi Ito (Japan / Pancrase-ism) vs. Tomoyoshi Iwamiya (Japan / Takada Dojo)

Lightweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Yoshiaki "Bancho" Takahashi (Japan / Paraestra Hachiouji) vs. Juntaro Ami (Japan / Wajiutsu Keishukai AKZA)

Featherweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Nao "King" (Japan / CORE) vs. Youjiro Uchimura (Japan / ingram)


Ticket Prices:
VIP - 12,000 yen / SS - 10,000 yen / A - 8,000 yen / B - 6,000 yen 
*500 yen more at the door.


Report by Shu Hirata
Photo by GBR (www.gbring.com)