Win Puts Melendez Close to Title Shot
Stephen Martinez May 4, 2005
TOKYO, May 4 — SHOOTO main promoter Sustain delivered another
action packed night of fights for all SHOOTO fans throughout the
world. Two TKOs, two submissions, one knockout and one decision
along with a grappling match between two SHOOTO legends and a very
special surprise from the new Japanese bantamweight bad boy, who
“called out” a current SHOOTO champion, highlighted the event at
Korakuen Hall.
The evening’s main event placed American Gilbert Melendez, in his second SHOOTO fight, against SHOOTO legend Naoya Uematsu. Melendez came out aggressive, blazing a trail with lefts and rights from the outset. Caught with a right straight punch, Uematsu was put down on the canvas. After the usual 8-count Melendez shot for a takedown, but the dizzy Uematsu pull a magic roll over to omo plata.
While the submission looked tight, Melendez didn’t give up and
started to muscle his way out. In the process Melendez stood with
Uematsu, still working the omo plata, hanging on his back. From
there Melendez pull a WWE-style move with something I remember from
my wrestling childhood, the “Death Valley driver,” to nail
Uematsu’s head on the canvas.
The beginning of the second round brought us the end of the fight after Melendez scored a takedown and went wild with ground-and-pound to open cuts in Uematsu’s mouth, ear and left eye before the referee jumped in to save the Japanese fighter from more punishment.
The co-main event of the night saw current SHOOTO bantamweight champion Mamoru overwhelm Stonnie Dennis with a high kick knockout. While Dennis landed a few solid shots to Mamoru’s face, the champion keep pushing forward and caught Dennis with the high kick next to the ropes.
After a couple of minutes of being unconscious in the ring a very dizzy Dennis stood to shake hands with Mamoru, asking, “Are you the one who hit me?”
For Mamoru the celebration was short since earlier in the night the new bantamweight bad boy from Japan, Setsu Iguchi, call the champion out defend his title against him. While Iguchi’s bad-mouth antics are not common among SHOOTO competitors the official commission and Sustain gave him the chance to get an interview in the ring and call Mamoru out to fight at the same time.
Right after the fight Mamoru had his opportunity to respond and basically made fun of Iguchi. From out of nowhere Iguchi showed up ringside and climbed one of the corners to exchange words with Mamoru. Looks like the bad blood is strong between this two and they will face soon inside SHOOTO to settle their differences.
Hawaiian Ray “Bradda” Cooper returned to the ring for the first time since probably the most important victory of his career, a knockout in SHOOTO Hawaii over ranked lightweight Hermes Franca. While tonight’s fight versus Jutaro Nakao protégée Takashi Nakakura looked easy on paper, the Japanese fighter pulled an upset.
Coming from behind after Cooper dominated the first round with solid punches and ground control, Nakakura nearly caught Cooper with an armlock, but the Hawaiian survived the submission while punching Nakakura's face.
As the first round came to a finish both fighters exchanged a flurry of punches and Cooper was caught above his right eye with a cut-opening punch. After time with the doctors Cooper was clear out to continue. But during the first minute of the round two Nakakura clinched and landed inside knees and punches which re-opened the cut, forcing the doctor to stop the fight.
Cooper looked disappointed while Nakakura was left crying after pull such a big victory on his career.
SHOOTO legends Yuki Nakai and Rumina Sato battled under special grappling rules to a full draw limit after five minutes. While Nakai was no match for Sato’s speed he used all his years of training and fight experience to place Sato at bay inside the butterfly guard.
Sato did manage to catch Nakai with an inverted triangle choke, but the hold was close to the ropes and the referee broke to restart. With only a couple of seconds to go Sato, inside Nakai’s guard, jumped for heel hook but time ran out, giving both a draw and standing ovation from the crowd.
The rest of the card showed SHOOTO Class B fighter Kenji Osawa taking out veteran Jin Akimoto with good sprawls and face punches while surviving Akimoto’s countless attempt to bring the fight to the ground.
Cobra Kai fighter and Dokonjonosuke Mishima student Toshimichi Akagi pulled a wicked heel hook over rookie Maasaki Sugawara 36 seconds into the first round. Akagi pulled guard from the opening bell and Sugawara punched his foe’s face. But he quickly fell under the guard/stand-up game and Akagi grabbed him for the fast submission.
The opening match of the night placed new female MMA fighter Pamela Vitz against the more experienced Satoko Shinashi, who quickly took her down to set an ankle lock. While in transition Shinashi went for full mount to score the armbar and the quick win.
The evening’s main event placed American Gilbert Melendez, in his second SHOOTO fight, against SHOOTO legend Naoya Uematsu. Melendez came out aggressive, blazing a trail with lefts and rights from the outset. Caught with a right straight punch, Uematsu was put down on the canvas. After the usual 8-count Melendez shot for a takedown, but the dizzy Uematsu pull a magic roll over to omo plata.
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The beginning of the second round brought us the end of the fight after Melendez scored a takedown and went wild with ground-and-pound to open cuts in Uematsu’s mouth, ear and left eye before the referee jumped in to save the Japanese fighter from more punishment.
With this victory Melendez earned the right to challenge current
SHOOTO lightweight champion Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira for the
title in a future event.
The co-main event of the night saw current SHOOTO bantamweight champion Mamoru overwhelm Stonnie Dennis with a high kick knockout. While Dennis landed a few solid shots to Mamoru’s face, the champion keep pushing forward and caught Dennis with the high kick next to the ropes.
After a couple of minutes of being unconscious in the ring a very dizzy Dennis stood to shake hands with Mamoru, asking, “Are you the one who hit me?”
For Mamoru the celebration was short since earlier in the night the new bantamweight bad boy from Japan, Setsu Iguchi, call the champion out defend his title against him. While Iguchi’s bad-mouth antics are not common among SHOOTO competitors the official commission and Sustain gave him the chance to get an interview in the ring and call Mamoru out to fight at the same time.
Right after the fight Mamoru had his opportunity to respond and basically made fun of Iguchi. From out of nowhere Iguchi showed up ringside and climbed one of the corners to exchange words with Mamoru. Looks like the bad blood is strong between this two and they will face soon inside SHOOTO to settle their differences.
Hawaiian Ray “Bradda” Cooper returned to the ring for the first time since probably the most important victory of his career, a knockout in SHOOTO Hawaii over ranked lightweight Hermes Franca. While tonight’s fight versus Jutaro Nakao protégée Takashi Nakakura looked easy on paper, the Japanese fighter pulled an upset.
Coming from behind after Cooper dominated the first round with solid punches and ground control, Nakakura nearly caught Cooper with an armlock, but the Hawaiian survived the submission while punching Nakakura's face.
As the first round came to a finish both fighters exchanged a flurry of punches and Cooper was caught above his right eye with a cut-opening punch. After time with the doctors Cooper was clear out to continue. But during the first minute of the round two Nakakura clinched and landed inside knees and punches which re-opened the cut, forcing the doctor to stop the fight.
Cooper looked disappointed while Nakakura was left crying after pull such a big victory on his career.
SHOOTO legends Yuki Nakai and Rumina Sato battled under special grappling rules to a full draw limit after five minutes. While Nakai was no match for Sato’s speed he used all his years of training and fight experience to place Sato at bay inside the butterfly guard.
Sato did manage to catch Nakai with an inverted triangle choke, but the hold was close to the ropes and the referee broke to restart. With only a couple of seconds to go Sato, inside Nakai’s guard, jumped for heel hook but time ran out, giving both a draw and standing ovation from the crowd.
The rest of the card showed SHOOTO Class B fighter Kenji Osawa taking out veteran Jin Akimoto with good sprawls and face punches while surviving Akimoto’s countless attempt to bring the fight to the ground.
Cobra Kai fighter and Dokonjonosuke Mishima student Toshimichi Akagi pulled a wicked heel hook over rookie Maasaki Sugawara 36 seconds into the first round. Akagi pulled guard from the opening bell and Sugawara punched his foe’s face. But he quickly fell under the guard/stand-up game and Akagi grabbed him for the fast submission.
The opening match of the night placed new female MMA fighter Pamela Vitz against the more experienced Satoko Shinashi, who quickly took her down to set an ankle lock. While in transition Shinashi went for full mount to score the armbar and the quick win.
