MMA Universe

Contrary to our previous report that Joe Warren was forced to withdraw from his upcoming bout at Vale Tudo Japan 2009 on Oct. 30 from the JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan, against Rumina Sato because of injury, a new report has surfaced that Warren is completely fit.

Earlier this week leading Shooto promoter, Sustain, announced that Warren tore a ligament in his left knee during training. However, Warren’s Team Quest management contacted Sherdog.com to rectify the Sustain’s misleading report, saying Warren simply could not reach terms for the Sato match up.

Therefore, Warren is healthy and will continue to train. He is aiming for a potential return to action on New Year’s Eve.

Aside from the confusion regarding Warren’s withdrawal, Warren’s Team Quest teammate and fellow former University of Michigan wrestler, Cory Grant, will fight Sato as previously reported. The bout will be contested at 138 pounds — the official weight of the DREAM’s “featherweight” division.

The last-minute shuffling of fight card continues with Vale Tudo Japan 2009, scheduled to take place in a week on Oct. 30 at JCB Hall in Tokyo.

Joe Warren, previously announced as the opponent for Rumina Sato, has been scratched from the line-up due to injury.

According to sources close to Warren, the former Greco-Roman world champion tore a ligament in his left knee while practicing submission defense with his teammates at Team Quest. The injury likely will take a month to fully heal, thus rendering Warren unable to fight on the VTJ ‘09 card.

For the last-minute replacement, Warren’s current teammate and fellow former UMich wrestler, Cory Grant, has stepped in to face Sato, the Shooto legend and former Pacific Rim 143-pound champion. During his decorated collegiate wrestling career, Grant has earned numerous accolades such as the All-American. Along with Warren, he joined the Team Quest in 2007 to commence his MMA career.

Nicknamed the “Savage,” Grant made his professional debut in 2008 and has since compiled a 3-0 record in Ultimate Cage Wars and King of the Cage. Warren, who will now relegate himself to the cornering role come Oct. 30, speaks very highly of Grant and believes a possible upset is in store — similar to his upset-of-the-year victory over Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto earlier this year.

The following is the updated line-up for Vale Tudo Japan ‘09:

Kenichiro Togashi vs. Willamy Freire
Takanori Gomi vs. Tony Hervey
Takeshi Inoue vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira
Mamoru Yamaguchi vs. Jesse Taitano
Tito Jones vs. Tenkei Fujimiya
Rumina Sato vs. Cory Grant
Yoichiro Sato vs. Jung Min Kang
Kosuke Eda vs. Makoto Sannai

For more on Vale Tudo Japan 2009 click here.

The veteran versus new kid on the block framework continues with Rumina Sato booked to take on Joe Warren at the upcoming Vale Tudo Japan ‘09, which is scheduled for the JCB Hall in Tokyo on Oct. 30.

Shooto promoter Sustain today confirmed that Warren has been tapped as the opponent for Shooto pioneer and former 143-pound Pacific Rim champion, Rumina Sato, for VTJ ‘09.

Sato vocalized his wish to fight at 135 pounds at last month’s press conference, citing his success and new-found vigor at the exhibition grappling match at UFC 100 fan expo. For the upcoming event, he will settle at the approximate midway point between 143 pounds and the potential new weight class: The fight will be contested at the contracted weight of 138.9 pounds — the official weight of DREAM’s “featherweight” division — under the previously announced VTJ rules.

Also, unlike the bouts fought by “Lion” Takeshi Inoue and Takanori Gomi, Sato-Warren will be a three-rounder with five minute rounds.

Sato last fought Shooto’s 143-pound champion, “Lion” Takeshi Inoue, at Shooto’s 20th anniversary event in May, suffering a first-round technical knockout loss. A long-time fan favorite and one of the pioneers of lightwer weight divisions, Sato has experienced a prolonged career ebb and lost six of his last seven fights.

Warren comes off a first-round submission loss against Bibiano Fernandes in the semi-final round of the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix at DREAM 11. It was the first loss of his nascent but storied career — he defeated former WEC bantamweight champion, Chase Beebe and Japanese MMA icon, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, in his first two MMA fights.

The following is the updated line-up for Vale Tudo Japan ‘09:

Kenichiro Togashi vs. Willamy Freire
Takanori Gomi vs. Tony Hervey
Takeshi Inoue vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira
Mamoru Yamaguchi vs. Jesse Taitano
Tito Jones vs. Tenkei Fujimiya
Rumina Sato vs. Joe Warren
Yoichiro Sato vs. Jung Min Kang