Perez to Face Uchiyama for WBA Super Featherweight Belt on December 31

Argentinean super featherweight contender Israel "Cachito" Perez (27-2-1, 16 KOs) will finally fulfill his dream of fighting for a world title when he faces unbeaten Japanese Champion Takashi "KO Dynamite" Uchiyama (21-0-1, 17 KOs) for the WBA Super Featherweight Championship on December 31 at the Ota City General Gym in Tokyo, Japan. 35-year-old Perez's career has taken off since joining forces with promoters Sampson Lewkowicz and Maravilla Box. The ex-Olympian and national and regional professional champion is coming of an eighth round destruction of Carlos Rodriguez for the WBA FEDEBOL Super featherweight title, earning him the 9th spot in the WBA ratings. Perez and trainer Carlos Tello will need to work hard and come up with an excellent game plan to defeat a solid champion like Uchiyama, who is making the ninth defense of his title he won in January of 2010 with a twelfth round stoppage of Juan Carlos Salgado. "I would like to thank Sampson Boxing and Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez, who are the ones responsible for this great opportunity. Without them, this would not have been possible," said a happy Perez. "I have experience. I am in shape and I am very much aware that I am going to bring the championship home. I will not disappoint and will make my dream of becoming champion of the world a reality. Uchiyama is a good boxer, but not unbeatable. I am going to Japan with only one thing in mind: to be crowned WBA Super featherweight Champion of the World." Perez vs. Uchiyama is promoted by Hitoshi Watanabe and will be televised by TyC Sport of Argentina. ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008. Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world's most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world's best fighters and most promising young contenders. Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Rumors circulate: Tournament Favorite Minowa, Bare Knuckle Fight King Gunn Questionable For Start Of Tournament

It was announced recently that there have been some questions raised as to the readiness of tournament favorite Ikuhisa Minowa and Bobby Gunn—bare knuckle boxing champion from the States. 

Minowa suffered a heartfelt loss last week at the hands of the tragic flood that took the lives of 26 people in Tokyo, one of Minowa’s elders being a victim.

Rumors have also circulated that Gunn has suffered injury during training camp and is not 100% ready to compete within a tournament of such high standards, though time will see.

In latest news Scandanavian MMA star Henrik Gustafson was arrested while flying into Tokyo for the tournament on suspicions of drug trafficking.  While no further information has been released at this time, tournament officials have immediately announced that he has been disqualified from fighting to keep the good name of the tournament.

The preliminaries for qualifying for the tournament begin next week, with the finals leading to the crowning of the champion commencing on August 9. 

The most skilled fighters in their discipline from around the world will engage in battle for the luxurious prize of $1 million dollars and the eligibility to walk on to any major fighting tournament across the world for the period of 12 months. 

“This tournament is shaping up to be quite the list of the usual suspects,” said Kazuyoshi Ishii, creator and founder of the Japanese Grand Prix Fighting Tournament.  “We have had our share of excitement this week, but it is imperative for each fighter to stay focused.  The winning fighter of this tournament will become the largest fight icon in the world, with access to countless endorsement deals worldwide and the opportunity to become a grand champion by winning all of the other major events.”

The highly anticipated tournament will begin July 30, with the finals promptly starting less than two weeks later. 

Time will tell who the ultimate warrior in the world is.

Darchinyan Ready To Dethrone Yamanaka As Tokyo Showdown Nears

WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

VIC 'RAGING BULL' DARCHINYAN
VS. SHINSUKE YAMANAKA


Photo By Bret "The Threat" Newton

April 2, 2012 - After eight grueling weeks of intense training, Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan (37-4-1, 27 KOs) is ready to leave everything in the ring when he challenges WBC bantamweight champion, Shinsuke Yamanaka (15-0-2, 11 KOs) for his title on April 6 in Tokyo, Japan.

Having won world titles in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions, Darchinyan seeks another championship in his third weight class. No one can deny the heart and strength of mind it takes to win one world championship, let alone three, and Darchinyan is on his way to making history if victorious against Yamanaka.

"The training is done and I'm ready to dethrone Yamanaka," said Darchinyan with confidence. It was an exhausting training camp, but I paid the price and I'm in excellent shape."

"Getting a victory in Japan will be a difficult task, except my determination to bring home another world title is driving me like never before. I'm confident that I'll be crowned world champion once again."

Promoter Gary Shaw stated, "The WBC has rightfully honored Vic the opportunity to capture his third world title, and I'm thankful to José Sulaimán for the opportunity he's granted him. Throughout his career Darchinyan has been a fan favorite and he's responsible for bringing the little guys back into the limelight. The Mexican fighters have always dominated the smaller weights and Vic beat them all, proving he's one of the top fighters of his era."

Shinsuke Yamanaka has been relentless since going the distance with Zaragoza Uema back in October of 2008, winning his last nine bouts, all by knockout. Against Darchinyan, he'll be fighting in his home country, giving him a distinctive advantage.

"I'm excited to see what Darchinyan has planned for Yamanaka," Shaw said. "His style is always pleasurable to watch and I know he wants to end this fight early. This fight has fireworks written all over it. The fans in Japan will be in for a great night of boxing."

"I want to thank Mr. Honda and the WBC for making this fight possible," said Darchinyan's manager, Elias Nassar. "Vic has been a great ambassador to the sport of boxing and he's worked very hard to put himself in position to capture another world title. All the training is finalized and he'll be ready for war on April 6 in Japan."

RONDA ROUSEY CAPTURES STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP VIA FIRST-ROUND ARMBAR SUBMISSION OVER MIESHA TATE

Catch the Replay Today/Sunday at 10 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® and

Tuesday, March 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME®



COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 4, 2012) – In the main event of STRIKEFORCE®: TATE vs. ROUSEY on SHOWTIME®, Ronda Rousey (5-0), of Venice, Calif. won the STRIKEFORCE Women’s Bantamweight Championship with her fifth straight victory – and fifth straight first-round submission via armbar - over Miesha Tate (12-3), of Yakima, Wash. at 4:27 of round one from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.



Full Card Official Results



Josh Thomson (19-4, 1 NC), of San Jose, Calif., scored a unanimous decision with title implications in the lightweight division over KJ Noons (10-4), of San Diego, Calif., by the scores of 29-28 three times.



Kazuo Misaki (25-11-2, 1 NC), of Tokyo, Japan, won a bloody split decision over Paul Daley (29-12-2), of Nottingham, England. The scores were 30-27, 29-28 for Misaki and 29-28 for Daley.



Lumumba Sayers (6-2), of Denver, Colo. submitted Scott Smith (18-10, 1 NC), of Elk Grove, Calif., via guillotine choke after catching him with a highlight reel back body drop.



“Jacare” Souza (15-3, 1 NC), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, submitted Bristol Marunde (15-7), of Las Vegas, Nev., via arm triangle choke at 2:43 in the third round.



Headling the card on SHOWTIME EXTREME®, Sarah Kaufman (15-1), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, won a majority decision with title implications in the women’s bantamweight division over Alexis Davis (11-5), of Jensen Beach, Fla., by the scores of 29-28 two times and 29-29.



Roger Bowling (11-2), of Cincinnati, Ohio, stopped Brandon Saling (8-6), of Byesville, Ohio, on strikes in the second round.



Pat Healy (29-17), of Portland, Oregon, submitted Caros Fodor (7-1, 1 NC), of Kirkland, Wash., at 3:35 in the third round.



Ryan Couture (4-1), of Las Vegas, Nev., scored a TKO via referee stoppage due to strikes over Conor Heun (9-5), of Hollywood, Calif., at 2:52 of round three.



Mauro Ranallo called the action alongside analysts Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich with Heidi Androl serving as cageside reporter. The executive producer is David Dinkins Jr.



For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.



For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com.



About STRIKEFORCE®

Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in Las Vegas, Nev. that currently holds live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.



About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.