MMA Universe

Reports surfaced late yesterday indicating that World Victory Road’s “Sengoku Raiden Championship” New Year’s Eve supershow at Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum has been canceled for Dec. 31.

Despite awaiting official confirmation, the news of the event’s peril was first reported by BloodyElbow.com after a turbulent turn of events this week has seemingly put the fight card in jeopardy.

The news comes on the heel of WVR’s decision to call off a press conference regarding the NYE event. The announcements regarding the highly anticipated television contract that WVR has been working to secure to broadcast the event would have been the highlight of the conference.

No details have been released, thus stoking the suspicion that WVR may have been unable to land the broadcast deal.

Besides the headlining bout between two former judo Olympic gold medalists, Hidehiko Yoshida and Satoshi Ishii, several title bouts have been rumored for the event. With the plan for the mega-event scheduled for the prime television slot of the year imperiled, WVR may now join forces with rival Japanese promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group to stage one big, MMA/K-1 fight card.

The putative collaboration between WVR and FEG has been reported in Japan by Tokyo Sports — note that, given the newspaper’s known predilection for tabloid-style sensationalism, its report must be taken with a grain of salt.

According to the paper, the merged fight card will take place at Saitama Super Arena and air on TBS, as the regular DREAM and K-1 events do. The combined card may include cross-promotional bouts pitting fighters under the WVR and DREAM/FEG banners.

Furthermore, Tokyo Sports reports that the president of Don Quijote, WVR’s main sponsor, and FEG president, Sadaharu Tanikawa, have been meeting privately since last month. After a series of meetings, they have reached the co-promotion deal for the NYE event earlier this month.

Tanikawa, DREAM event producer, Keiichi Sasahara and WVR PR director, Takahiro Kokuho have refused to comment on the Tokyo Sports report.

Expect a major press conference in the coming weeks to reveal the details of the co-promoted fight card.

The countdown to World Victory Road’s  monumental New Year’s Eve event has begun.

Sengoku Gold, a weekly half-hour digest that features fighter interviews, behind-the-scene footage, and event recaps, has been re-branded as the “SRC (Sengoku Raiden Championship) Spirit,” starting Oct. 4.

In anticipation of the event that will rechristen Sengoku as the Sengoku Raiden Chapionship, “SRC Spirit” offers glimpses into the personal lives and training of the fighters who will grace the ring.

The event is slated to feature at least three title bouts and culminate with the main event pitting two judo golden boys: 1992 Olympic gold medalist and Japanese MMA icon, Hidehiko Yoshida, and the 2008 Olympic gold medalist and prodigiously hyped MMA debutant, Satoshi Ishii.

In the four, documentary-style episodes that have aired thus far, Yoshida and Ishii have shared their thoughts and training footage as the clock ticks for their epic showdown.

A tireless road warrior, Ishii has traveled to South Florida, Brazilian Amazon, and various gyms in Japan in preparation for his MMA debut. He is now itching to showcase his transformation from a judo Olympic gold medalist to full-fledged MMA fighter.

Ishii states that Yoshida, whom he has always admired as a fellow judoka, is a stepping stone to bigger and better things in his career. As evidenced by his initial UFC venture, he already possesses an outsized ambition to make his mark in the MMA world.

Yoshida, on the other hand, puts his pride and veteran credential on the line against Ishii. He seeks to show Ishii the challenge and rigor of MMA, as someone who has traveled the road that Ishii has just begun to toe.

Other highlights from the “SRC Spirit” episodes:

• Also featured are the Sengoku featherweight and lightweight contenders who head into the upcoming Sengoku 11 for high-stake battles to earn their shot at the title on NYE: Hatsu Hioki, Michihiro Omigawa (in the upcoming episode), Eiji Mitsuoka, Kazunori Yokota, and Satoru Kitaoka.

• Hatsu Hioki, who defeated Masanori Kanehara in the semi-final bout of the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix, was forced to withdraw from the final due to concussion. He states that the deflating experience of watching Kanehara move on to the final and steal the tournament crown is in the past: He is focused on his bout with Michihiro Omigawa for a chance to earn his belt on NYE.

• Eiji Mitsuoka, seen working with his personal trainer at Gold’s Gym, speaks about his newly developed power that has accentuated his wrestling and striking.

• Kazunori Yokota, on the other hand, prides himself on his speed that he hopes will help him edge Mitsuoka and earn him a rematch with Mizuto Hirota for the lightweight title on NYE.

• Satoru Kitaoka faces American Top Team prospect, Jorge Masvidal at Sengoku 11. He speaks about his disorienting encounter with fame in the wake of becoming the Sengoku lightweight champion, decision to retire after his loss to Hirota, and newfound vigor for his fighting career.

• Akihiro Gono discusses his current three-fight skid and the highs and lows he has experienced over the course of his fifteen-year career: He appears refreshingly content, even when reflecting upon the tribulations. The 35 year-old Gono states that his professional and personal lives have never been more fulfilling than they are now.

• The Oct. 25 episode shows a scene from the celebration held to mark the founding of Japan Martial Arts Games Association. The new organization unites the committees responsible for oversight of various martial arts/combat sports, including MMA under its wing. The notable figures in attendance at the celebration, such as former boxing world champions, Yoko Gushiken and Koichi Wajima, and Sumo wrestler, Asashoryu, voice their excitement about the Yoshida-Ishii bout on NYE.

Check out the “SRC Spirit” episodes below, or to access the playlist and select individual episodes, click here.

Keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for more on SRC Spirit and the upcoming Sengoku New Year’s Eve event.