Hideo Tokoro vs Antonio Baneulos, Masakazu Imanari vs Abel Cullum, Bibiano Fernandes vs Takafumi Otsuka, and Yusup Saadulaev vs Rodolfo Marques
Ok so it's kind of cheating having 4 fights in one position, but still this is a tournament no one should miss. Hideo Tokoro who won his birth into this tournament by winning the Japan tournament earlier this year could be the early favorite but will be in tough in this stacked tournament that also features former Dream Featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes dropping weight and will take on Otsuka in a rematch. Leg lock specialist Imanari should never be counted out and will surely be looking for revenge against Tokoro who he lost in the finals of the Japan tournament. They both have to get by tough opponents in Banuelos and Cullum before such a rematch can even be considered. Who ever does end up at the top of the heap in the tournament with definitely make a huge argument to have them selves including as one of the top 10 bantamweights in the world.
Not only overlooked in the MMA world this fight is even overlooked on it's own card with the Bantamweight tournament taking place on the same evening. A rematch from their 2006 bout in Shooto which ended with Kawajiri walking away with the win after a Hansen disqualification. This time around however, they will meet in the Featherweight division as Kawajiri makes the drop for the first time and joins Hansen who has been fighting at this weight since last year. Hansen has won 3 in a row and Kawajiri has already won since being badly beaten by Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce but it would be walking away with a win in this bout that will really put the victor a step closer to a top 10 ranking that they both enjoyed not too many years ago in the Lightweight division.
3.Lorenz Larkin vs Virgil Zwicker taking place at Strikeforce Challengers 19 on September 23rd
Featuring mostly for Larkin's prospect status the undefeated stand up artist is making his 3 appearance in Strikeforce's Challenger Series events and his first in the main event. Strikeforce could really have them selves a gem in Larkin and a win here could propel him into much bigger matchups in the near future especially with the much needed depth in the division.
Featuring mostly for Larkin's prospect status the undefeated stand up artist is making his 3 appearance in Strikeforce's Challenger Series events and his first in the main event. Strikeforce could really have them selves a gem in Larkin and a win here could propel him into much bigger matchups in the near future especially with the much needed depth in the division.
4. Dan Hornbuckle vs Luis Santos taking place at Bellator 49 on September 10th
Any 4 of the Welterweight tournament bouts Bellator has scheduled for their next event could be placed here but the main event gets the nod. The exciting Hornbuckle is making his 3rd attempt at winning a Bellator tournament and you would think his motivation has never been higher as this surely is his last chance to win it all. In his way however is Luis Santos, winner of 12 straight and an impressive 49 overall and from Team Nogeuria. The winner of this bout isn't about to jump into any rankings just yet but still it's going to be an exciting bout and will be a threat to win the whole tournament.
2 Highly respected fighters in women's MMA face off on the undercard of Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix. Nunes who already is ranked in my women's pound for pound at #9 is looking to make a big statement and that she is one of the best fighters in women's mma today. In her way is Alexis Davis who's faced some of the sports top fighters and will be a great test for Nunes in what could be a show stealer.
Honorable mentions
Joe Warren vs Alexis Vila taking place at Bellator 51 on September 24th
Paul Daley vs Jordan Radev taking place at Bamma 7 on September 10th
Eduard Folayang vs A Sol Kwon taking place at One FC on September 3rd
Phil Baroni vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida taking place at One FC on September 3rd
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