Mitsuoka-Santos, Blanco-Kunioku added to Sengoku 12

Sengoku 12 fight card continues to take shape with the addition of two big fights. Scheduled for March 7, Sengoku 12 will take place at the fabled sumo arena, Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Eiji Mitsuoka (16-7-2) returns to face Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenom, Leonardo Santos (6-3), while the rising star, Maximo Blanco (4-2-1) takes on 65-fight veteran, Kiuma Kunioku (34-22-9) in a collison of youth and experience.

Mitsuoka stumbled against Kazunori Yokota in a battle between Sengoku's top lightweight contenders last November. Prior to fighting in Sengoku, he rose to prominence with a victory over Joachim Hansen in Shooto. In Sengoku, he has gone 4-2 and earned all four victories via submission in the first round.

Leonardo Santos also looks to rebound after a close split decision loss to Yokota last May. A Nova Uniao product and younger brother of current WEC bantamweight, Wagnney Fabiano, Santos boasts an extraordinary list of accolades in BJJ and submission grappling tournaments, including a medal in ADCC.

Maximo Blanco, a former standout freestyle wrestler, has represented his home country of Venezuela in international wrestling competitions. He has been training at Yoshida dojo and seeks to capitalize on his two-fight winning streak; his second-to-last victory over Katsuya Inoue earned him the Lightweight King of Pancrase title.

Kiuma Kunioku has been competing since 1996, mostly in Pancrase. His current three-fight winning streak has come on the heel of a prolonged downturn during which he recorded six losses and two draws in nine fights. In his last fight, he bested A Sol Kwon by unanimous decision at Sengoku 5 in September 2008.

Stay tuned to MMAmania for more information regarding the upcoming Sengoku 12.