Covering the Japanese mixed martial arts scene can be very rewarding due to the fact that you get to see the new faces making a name for themselves. But once in a while, we get to see someone arrive and break into MMA with the weight and help of the promotion behind him.
Pancrase held another of their 2006 "Blow" tour events on Saturday, this time at the artificial islands of the Odaiba district at Differ Ariake.
The main event saw Kawamura, the Neo-Blood tournament light heavyweight champion (199 pounds) and tournament MVP, against Chute Boxe's Daniel Acacio (Pictures).
Acacio rushed forward with a flying kick but missed his target. Kawamura countered with jab-straight combinations but Acacio kept the Japanese fighter at bay by throwing short jabs and punches that seemed to move Kawamura out of range due to the Brazilian's reach.
Acacio kept control through the first round using the patented Chute Boxe style of striking with a good jab and straight combos, while mixing body shots and low kicks. Kawamura tried to keep the Brazilian's pace, but Acacio's sharp striking and clinch work took a toll on Kawamura's body. At the end of the first round the Japanese fighter displayed a bloody nose and his right eye was partially shut.
Answering a failed Kawamura takedown, Acacio finished the first round with a double flying stomp that basically buried the Japanese fighter's head into the mat.
Basically outclassed on the feet in the first round, the rookie sensation regrouped and pushed forward in the second round. After shaking Acacio from the clinch position, Kawamura nailed the Brazilian with a perfect right-left combination to Acacio's face that sent the Chute Boxe fighter crashing head first to the canvas.
Kawamura followed with short punches to the downed Acacio but the referee quickly jumped in to stop the fight and awarded Kawamura the knockout victory.
The obvious question for Kawamura was his opinion about facing and defeating a PRIDE Bushido veteran like Acacio and how he feels about step into the Bushido.
Kawamura said that he wasn't interested in Bushido right now because his main goal was to make a name for himself in Pancrase first and help the promotion by bringing fans to see the shows.
The co-main event of the put welterweight Carlos Condit (Pictures) against SK Absolutefs Takuya Wada (Pictures).
This match was basically a one sided beating by Condit over the veteran Wada.
Condit was relentless through the three rounds. The American mounted and took Wada's back several times while mixing guard submission attempts and occasional stomps here and there.
With 40 second remaining in the fight, Condit caught Wada in a beautiful armlock submission that left the Japanese fighter with his arm bent back in an awkward position. The referee, fearing a possible arm break, quickly jumped in and stopped the fight at 4:22 of the third round.
In a battle of former wrestlers, Norifumi Yamamoto (Pictures)'s teammate Shinsuke Shoji (Pictures) faced a more experienced Yuji Hoshino (Pictures) from Wajyutsu Keisyukai GODS.
More than technique, this fight was about the guts and heart from both fighters, who chose to keep the affair standing. Hoshino got the better of Shoji by mixing his combos carefully with hooks and straight punches. Shoji seemed more comfortable, keeping his hands down while looking for a big punch, ala "Kid" Yamamoto, to finish the fight.
At the end, the judges awarded Hoshino with the decision victory.
Neo-Blood 2005 featherweight tournament champion Manabu Inoue (Pictures) displayed a well rounded game, both standing and on the ground, in his victory over Mitsuhisa Sunabe (Pictures), a unanimous decision 20-19 three times.
Australia's Daniel Lyons (Pictures), with three amateur boxing titles in Australia and plenty of pro Muay Thai experience, moved to Indonesia, and then Thailand three years ago to begin training at a Fairtex Gym to tune up his skills. Tonight, he was made his MMA debut against pro-wrestler turned MMA fighter Masayuki Kono (Pictures).
Lyons started with low hard kicks that thundered through the venue, however the Japanese fighter quickly exposed his opponent's weakness as soon as the first takedown came.
Kono worked his way into side-mount and tried to sink an armlock, but the Australian forced his way out from the position. Kono quickly followed and mounted his opponent, delivering ground punches for the TKO victory at 3:46 of the first round.
U-File newcomer Tashirou Nishiuchi (Pictures) made quick work of All Japan Kickboxer turned MMA fighter Yuji Sakuragi (Pictures). After dominating the first and second rounds with takedowns and ground control, Nishiuchi exposed Sakuragi's well known weakness on the ground to secure a rear-naked choke at 3:20 of the second round.
In early action, Kenji Shimada defeated Yukito by unanimous decision (20-19, 20-18, 20-19).
Naoki Yoshimura (Pictures) defeated Taku Aramaki (Pictures) by majority decision (20-19, 20-20, 20-19).
Ichiro Kanai (Pictures) (PANCRASEism) defeated Yuji Hisamatsu (Pictures) by unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-19).