King of the Cage "Toryumon" Results

(Photo courtesy of Sportsnavi)

King of the Cage made its Japanese debut on Saturday, January 30, as it delivered "King of the Cage - Toryumon" from Okinawa Convention Center in Naha, Okinawa.

A fight card featured several notable Japanese veterans, and in the implicit "Japan vs. America" showdown that characterized the card, Japanese squad accomplished a near-clean sweep.

In the main event, the afro-sporting Shooto veteran, Mamoru Yamaguchi breezed by the undefeated prospect, Frank Baca, earning a second-round submission victory. The triumphant Yamaguchi was awarded the previously vacant KOTC junior flyweight championship.

Krazy Bee fighter, Kotetsu Boku bested former KOTC lightweight champion, Tony Hervey with unanimous decision. Hervey's doldrums continues as he now finds himself in the midst of a three-fight losing streak. After dropping a hard-fought five-round decision against the former Pride lightweight kingpin, Takanori Gomi last October at Vale Tudo Japan 2009, Hervey faltered in his KOTC title defense in December.

Pride and K-1 Hero's veteran, Shungo Oyama returned to KOTC for the first time in nearly nine years and triumphed over Mike Wimmer in 67 seconds with heel hook.

In the lone female clash of the night, Roxanne Modafferi rebounded from her first-round submission loss to Marloes Coenen. Coincidentally, had she won against Coenen, she would have been in Miami to challenge Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce women's 145-pound title on Saturday night. Modafferi earned a second-round submission win via rear naked choke over Molly Helsel.

In one of the few fights in which an American fighter prevailed over Japanese opponent, the consensus 2009 Submission of the Year winner, Toby Imada defeated Pancrase and MARS veteran, Daisuke Hanazawa with a second-round TKO.

Full results:

Kotetsu Boku def. Tony Hervey by Unanimous Decision
Toby Imada def. Daisuke Hanazawa by TKO Round 2 0:29
Roxanne Modafferi def Molly Helsel by rear-naked choke Round 2 3:18
Tatsuya Sou def Shigeki Matsuda by TKO Round 2 3:48
Shungo Oyama Def. Mike Wimmer by Heel hook Round 1 1:07
Koji Kanechika def Jerry Vrbanovic by Decision 3-0
Jerry Nelson Def. Shinsho Anzai by decision 2-1
Shinya Kumazawa def. Steve Hecht by Armbar Round 1 1:14
Tsuyoshi Tamaki def. Bryon Schnell by rear-naked choke Round 3 2:28