World Victory Road (WVR) has finalized its sixth installment that features the conclusion of its lightweight and middleweight grand prix and the return of popular fan favorites Antonio Rogerio Noguiera and Takanori Gomi.
Sengoku 6 will take place on November 1 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
"Little Nog", the twin brother of current UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, hasn't fought since his victory at Affliction "Banned" on July 19 when he easily stopped Edwin "Babyface" DeWees in the first round.
He will meet the very well-rounded Moise Rimbon, who choked out Peter Graham at Sengoku 4 on August 28.
Another decisive win could help re-establish Noguiera as one of the world’s top 205-pound fighters. That position was called into question when the rugged Brazilian was knocked stiff by the recently-fizzled Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at PRIDE 33 in 2007.
Josh Barnett is not scheduled to compete, despite earlier reports.
Also added to November’s card is former UFC middleweight Joe Doerksen. "El Dirte" was released by the UFC after a technical knockout loss to Jason MacDonald at UFC 83 last April -- his third straight defeat under the Zuffa umbrella.
He looks to get back into the win column against Izuru Takeuchi. Takeuchi is 5-0 in Pancrase since his return at ‘Rising 4′ last April. Both fighters are competing on the reserve bout for a shot at the middleweight grand prix should one of the finalists be unable to continue.
No question Doerksen is thinking about Joachim Hansen’s improbable grand prix win at DREAM 5.
WVR didn’t waste any time bringing Team Quest product Muhammed Lawal back into action. "King Mo" obliterated the very experienced Travis Wiuff with a brutal ground and pound in his debut at Sengoku 5.
He faces the talented Chute Boxe fighter Fabio Silva, who last competed at Sengoku 3 where he knocked out Yoshiki Takahashi via knee implant.
Headlining the show is one of Japan’s most popular fighters, Takanori Gomi. "The Fireball Kid" is hoping to improve upon an unsatisfying performance against Seung Hwan Bang at Sengoku 4 on August 28. Gomi took the decision but admitted in post-fight interviews he wanted a stoppage.
He may need one at Sengoku 6 or be in danger of getting stopped himself as he faces a very tough Red Devil product in Sergey Golyaev. The Russian has won three straight and stopped eight of his 10 opponents via submission.
Rounding out the already solid card is of course the semifinals and finals of the lightweight and middleweight grand prix.
Here is the finalized fight card for Sengoku 6:
Main Card:
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) vs. Moise Rimbon (13-7-3)
Muhammad Lawal (1-0) vs. Fabio Silva (11-4)
Takanori Gomi (29-3) vs. Sergey Golyaev (10-6)
Lightweight Grand Prix semifinals:
Mizuto Hirota (10-2) vs. Kazunori Yokota (7-1-3)
Satoru Kitaoka (21-8-9) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (14-5-2)
Lightweight Grand Prix reserve bout:
Seung Hwan Bang (5-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (14-3)
Lightweight Grand Prix finals:
Winner of Hirota vs. Yokota vs. winner of Kitaoka vs. Mitsuoka
Middleweight Grand Prix semifinals:
Yuki Sasaki (22-14-1) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (12-8)
Jorge Santiago (18-7) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (14-3-1)
Middleweight Grand Prix reserve bout:
Joe Doerksen (40-12) vs. Izuru Takeuchi (25-9-6)
Middleweight Grand Prix finals:
Winner of Sasaki vs. Nakamura vs. winner of Santiago vs. Bahadurzada
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