M-1 Challenge 2009 show 3 - Japan vs. UK card - April 29th (Tokyo)

[iandean]

From Japan-mma.com


The M-1 Challenge has gained in popularity, and last year's event in Korakuen Hall was very good. This year the event is being held in Differ Ariake, and it looks like it should be a very good event.

The Japanese team is taking on the UK, and it should be a very competitive battle. The stars on the Japanese team are Hidehiko Hasegawa, Riki Fukuda and Yusuke Kawaguchi.

I have had some problems finding the fight record for some of these fighters, but there are some very good talents in here. There will also be some superfights and opening fights at this event. But just with the M-1 challenge fights there are 15 fights, this should be very good value ticket.

http://www.japan-mma.com/2009/04/429-deep-m-1-challenge-japan.html

Fightcard

Japan vs UK
・Luiz Andrade vs Ian Butlin
・Hidehiko Hasegawa vs Simon Phillips
・Riki Fukuda vs Matt Thorpe
・Tatsuya Mizuno vs Tom Blackledge
・Yusuke Kawaguchi vs Rob Broughton

USA Team West vs Korea
・David Jansen vs Nam Yuichul
・Fabio Nagao vs Bea Myungho
・Giva Santana vs Heo Minsuk
・Raphael Davis vs Kim Jaeyoung
・Shane Del Rosario vs Lee Sangsoo

France vs Spain
・Makhtar Gueye vs Jose Luiz Zapater Aguirre
・Farouk Lakebir vs Jose Belrtran
・Christophe Dafreville vs Rayco Zebenzui Romero Silva
・Christian Mpumbu vs Enoc Solbes
・Soufian Elgarne vs Rogent Lloret

[thaison]

good luck to the british team

[brawler4life]

some good fights rob broughton has a tough fight

think tom will win so will ian butlin

not sure about the rest

[THE MOSS]

some good fights rob broughton has a tough fight

think tom will win so will ian butlin

not sure about the rest

as does matt thorpe but dont doubt any of em!! good luck team UK

[$candalous]

Best of luck men.

[Andrew Garvey]

The M-1 Challenge is utterly baffling to me.

Good luck to the UK team.

Isn't Riki Fukuda fighting this weekend as well?

[iandean]

The M-1 Challenge is utterly baffling to me.

I Agree and i'm involved in it lol. I can try and help you though, what's bothering you.

I do think it is a great concept



Isn't Riki Fukuda fighting this weekend as well?

Yeah he is !

[Andrew Garvey]

I Agree and i'm involved in it lol. I can try and help you though, what's bothering you.

I do think it is a great concept



I just struggle with the entire team thing since I can't think of a time when its ever actually worked in MMA. The UK vs. Japan thing - I do get that, after all, its in Japan but Spain vs. France on the same show? Just weird.

They've got some great fighters but I just wish they'd tidy up the concept a bit, make sure they actually have relevant fighters/teams for the country, and it'd be nice if I had a clue where it was all going, lol.

I mean, even YOU find it confusing! How is anyone else meant to follow it??

[iandean]

Thing is with 16 teams this year they are having to put on more team challenges bouts

So each event has 3 team challenge per show

Basically there are 4 groups of 4 teams
Each team fights the other 3 teams in there group in a best of 5 bout series
The top team in the group goes through to theSemi Final in October
Final in Nov/Dec

[$candalous]

I think Big Robs gonna shock a few people by the end of the year. He faught Rico on short notice and was totally dominating until Rico pulled of the knee bar. With a full camp and after watching him train recently he looks in the best shape ever and ready to do some seriouse damage.

[Andrew Garvey]

Thing is with 16 teams this year they are having to put on more team challenges bouts

So each event has 3 team challenge per show

Basically there are 4 groups of 4 teams
Each team fights the other 3 teams in there group in a best of 5 bout series
The top team in the group goes through to theSemi Final in October
Final in Nov/Dec

Its making a little more sense now. Thanks, mate :)

[iandean]

I think Big Robs gonna shock a few people by the end of the year. He faught Rico on short notice and was totally dominating until Rico pulled of the knee bar. With a full camp and after watching him train recently he looks in the best shape ever and ready to do some seriouse damage.

I think so too

Yusuke Kawaguchi (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Yusuke-Kawaguchi-21975) will be a big test for him right now. He is 8-0 and some people will aarugue he is Japan's best active HW right now

But he hasn't forught someone like Big Rob yet and i know a few people who follow the game out there see this as Kawaguchi's biggest test to date

[Lee Dickson]

Good luck to the uk team especailly Tom and Rob.

[BJJ-swiss]

Good luck to the uk team especailly Tom and Rob.

Does Rob Broughton represent Golden Glory? Who is/are his coach/es?

[tom blackledge]

Cant wait to get back fighting, this will be my best performance ever.
If any one wants to sponsor me for this fight send us a pm.
Rob trains under Darren Morriss at powerbeck/Atherton but trains with other guys too like GG.

[BJJ-swiss]

Thanks, i don't know his coach, i was thinking it was Paul Cahoon because i've heard he was at training at Golden Glory. Anyway, good luck against the japanese team.

[iandean]

t3 for this

Fudoka / Thorpe is confirmed now too.

UK vs. Japan should be a great team challenge series

[boxingbrit]

We are very excited about this. All of us are training hard and it'd be great for everyone to get behind the UK team.

[MMAlien]

Luiz Andrade dont sound too japanese! war team UK!

[iandean]

Some info on the Japanese team from M-1



Lightweight - Luiz Andrade (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Luiz-Andrade-I-16805) (Fighting Ian Butlin)
Andrade is a veteran of DEEP who is undefeated in his last three fights. He last competed at DEEP 39 this past December, where he recorded a majority decision victory over Shinobu Miura. The bout served as a rematch from their two-round draw at DEEP 37 this past August.


Welterweight - Hidehiko Hasegawa (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Hidehiko-Hasegawa-5417) (fighting Simon Phillips)
In addition to being a veteran of DEEP and Pancrase, Hasegawa is a returnee to the M-1 Challenge. Representing Team Japan against Team Spain in Kansas City, MO this past October, Hasegawa recorded a three-round unanimous decision victory over Javier Martinez. His last fight was another unanimous decision victory over Makoto Ishikawa at DEEP 40 this past February.


Middleweight - Riki Fukuda (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Riki-Fukuda-10229) - (To fight Matt Thorpe)
The 27-year old Fukuda formerly trained under Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto with Team Killer Bee in Japan and has fought for promotions such as EliteXC, Shooto, K-1, Pancrase and DEEP. A veteran of 18 fights, Fukuda holds notable victories in his career over current M-1 light heavyweight competitor Jason Jones as well as current UFC welterweight Brandon Wolff.

Last Sunday he replaced Dong Sik Yoon to fight former EliteXC middleweight champion Murilo "Ninja" Rua on just days notice, and delivered in the clutch and won his fourth consecutive fight following a unanimous decision victory over Rua at Japan's Saitama Super Arena.


Light-Heavyweight - Tatsuya Mizuno (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tatsuya-Mizuno-18538) - (To fight Tom Blackledge)
The 27-year old Mizuno was 2-1 in the M-1 Challenge last year with wins over Yoshiyuki Nakanishi in a superfight against Jose Beltran while representing Team Japan vs. Team Spain this past October. Mizuno might be best known for his March 2008 fight vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic during DREAM's first-ever event. He also met current UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva during a 2007 bout while competing under the Pancrase banner.


Heavyweight - Yusuke Kawaguchi (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Yusuke-Kawaguchi-21975) - (To fight Rob Broughton)
Rounding out Team Japan's impressive five-man squad is one of its best heavyweight prospects, the 8-0 Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi won DEEP's 2008 Megaton Grand Prix Champion with wins over Nobuyoshi Takahara, Yoichi Babaguchi, Shunji Kosaka, and Shunsuke Inoue. He claimed the championship on Aug. 2 last year after defeating Kosaka and Inoue in the same night.

[brawler4life]

i dunno wt this simon dude is like but che mills wud of made a nice replacement

[Reedy]

i dunno wt this simon dude is like but che mills wud of made a nice replacement

Si Phillips is a very very good fighter.

[ReD_mIst]

Does Rob Broughton represent Golden Glory? Who is/are his coach/es?


Tom is correct. Rob's main gym is Atherton/Powerbeck, under Darren Morris, but Rob is a training whore! He will go anyway where he can to get news skills and challenges. We see him at Colosseum/Powerbeck at least once a week and he has obviously been at the M1 training sessions. Yes, he does also have a connection with Paul Cahoon and Golden Glory UK

[ReD_mIst]

i dunno wt this simon dude is like but che mills wud of made a nice replacement

Isn't Che exclusively signed to Cage Rage/Ultimate Challenge UK?

[Levo]

Some info on the Japanese team from M-1

Mixed bag but a strong team for the Japanese. The WW and MW are particularly difficult opponents, tough and experienced. Big wins and career boosters for the UK fighters if they take those. Their LW is their weakest link which is surprising given it's a Japanese team and he's replacing submission wiz Daisuke Nakamura who recently had an 8 fight win streak.

I think this will be a very good card with some great fights.

Best of luck to the UK team.

Nathan

[pmoney]

Some good fights. Good luck to Uk team

[brawler4life]

Isn't Che exclusively signed to Cage Rage/Ultimate Challenge UK?

no mate not at all free agent!!!

[S*nScum]

Good luck to the British fighters.

Some hard fights there.

All the best to big Rob

[David Butlin]

Mixed bag but a strong team for the Japanese. The WW and MW are particularly difficult opponents, tough and experienced. Big wins and career boosters for the UK fighters if they take those. Their LW is their weakest link which is surprising given it's a Japanese team and he's replacing submission wiz Daisuke Nakamura who recently had an 8 fight win streak.

I think this will be a very good card with some great fights.

Best of luck to the UK team.

Nathan

You actually done your homework here or are you just trying to belittle my brother if he loses with another of your patronising, arrogant posts?? Arent you too busy training people for the UFC to be on here posting??

D

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Luiz-Andrade-I-16805 Looks easy!!