Finally on September 26th, Pancrase announced one last card for the upcoming Yokohama show on October 3rd.

Mitsuru Sato will be facing Poai Suganuma from Hawaii. Suganuma is the hope of TWIST, an MMA dojo founded by Takefumi Hanai, who competed at this year's ADCC world championships. He is 6'2" and 205 lbs with a pro MMA record of 5-0. Suganuma has won the Hawaii state high school wrestling championship in 1998 and 1999.

TK showing his masterful ground technique at his gym, A Square in Tokyo.

Back on September 23rd, the King of Pancrase Tsuyoshi TK Kosaka talked to the media after a practice session at A Square gym in Akasaka, Tokyo.
In regards to Mike Kyle, TK remembers him from doing a commentary for Japanese broadcasting of the UFC but Kyle never left any impression on TK.

When a reporter asked him about Kyle's high KO percentage, TK bounced out, "I just won't get hit" then followed, "Compared to fighters I have fought in the past, it shouldn't be any problem."

TK is firmly has a rematch against Emelianenko Fedor or even fighting Kyle's teammate Mirko Cro Cop on his mind. TK, as usual, didn't exhibit feelings but said, "I want to be a fighter that they would want to fight, or I want to place myself in a position where they have no choice but to fight me. I want to put on that kind of a fight."

TK also mentioned fighting in next year's PRIDE heavyweight GP as one of his goals. TK without defiance shared what's in his mind. Ever since he got the title, people have been pushing him by telling, "You must provide a good champion-like fight."
TK is obviously feeling the pressure.
"It's almost a year since I last fought in a Pancrase show but I will show everything I gained in this one year and win the fight. Please don't look away for a second during my fight.

Masayuki Kono wants to land a jumping high kick, soccer kick and then finish the fight with a Stretch Plum. It's that favorite winning combination by a popular Japanese pro-wrestler named Toshiaki Kawada, Kono's former senior associate at All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Yes, Kono, even in MMA, still talks like what he is supposed to be, a pro-wrestler.
His opponent, Russian powerhouse Aslan Dzeboev from Marupro gym, however can finish the entire story with one shot.
Dzeboev, last week, just KO'd Mitsuyoshi Sato from GRABAKA with one right straight but also lost to Yuji Sakuragi's body shot in Pancrase's July show in Yokohama.

Kono putting on a performance in front of the media. He always likes to play the role of pro-wrestler.

On September 22nd, Kono told the media that he has seen both fights on videotape, "I think he is stronger than me so I want to fight like it's a challenge."
Kono is comfortable with finding out who his opponent is just 10 days before the fight, "Even if this fight was decided a few months ago, it would still be the same for me."
Kono's MMA training is done at TK's A Square gym, he also goes to a Muay Thai gym, and even still participates in team practice at his old haunts All Japan Pro-Wrestling.

The order of fights is also announced on September 26th and the battle between Yoshiki Takahashi and Kestutis Arbocius will kick off the show. According to Pancrase, Takahashi wanted to be in the first match so he could go over to Jingu Stadium and see a baseball game after the fight. He is a big fan of the Hanshin Tigers (a team based in Osaka) and this team might win the pennant on the same day if they win the game against Yakult Swallows.

At last, Sehaku changed his ring name to Lee Segaku.

(09/29/2005)

Tsuyoshi TK Kosaka's opponent is going to be Mike Kyle from Team Cro cop.
On September 16th, Pancrase announced one additional card for the upcoming Yokohama show on October 17th, 2005.

Kyle is originally from the San Jose area but is now training in Croatia with Mirko Cro Cop and Fabricio Werdum. Kyle is 25 years old and has a pro MMA record of 8 - 3 - 0.
He defeated Wes Sims in UFC 47, and lost to Justin Eilers in UFC 49,but came back to the Octagon in February of this year and KO'd James Irvin.
Kyle changed his association from the American Kickboxing Academy to Cro Cop's team early this year.

Originally Pancrase was planning to find a suitable fighter to challenge TK's King of Panrase belt (Super-heavyweight) but last month, number three ranked Alex Roberts got caught by Anthony "Tatsuji" Netzler's heel lock, so Pancrase decided to look for new talent outside Japan. However, since this is Kyle's first Pancrase appearance, this fight vs. TK is going to be a non-title bout.

Many fans in the states probably remembers Kyle as the man who bit Sims' chest in UFC 47 but since then he has been under control and behaving well,so it will be interesting to see how TK will ride this matured wild horse break him down to the canvas, his favorite area, and tame him.

(09/17/2005)

The opponent of Yuki Kondo will be a former RINGS star Hiromitsu Kanehara.
On September 9th, Pancrase held a press conference at P’s LAB in Tokyo and announced three additional cards for the upcoming Yokohama show on October 2nd.

Yuki Kondo (right) and Hiromitsu Kanehara posing for the mediat at the press conference.

Although Kondo is the current King of Pancrase, this fight against Kanehara will be a non-title bout, 5 minutes 3 rounds.

Kondo is thrilled to be able to face Kanehara, “I am glad I am finally able to interface with Kanehara. He is an all-round fighter, and has no holes in his technique so it will be difficult for me to come up with a strategy. But I am going to use everything I got.”

Kanehara was also ecstatic with this match-up, “I went to see the very first Pancrase show. Ever since I was fighting in UWF International I always wanted to fight in Pancrase’s ring. I think Kondo is one of the best strikers in Japan. So I want to use my striking skill and grappling skill to challenge him.”

Two other cards announced were Satoru Kitaoka vs. Carlos Condit and Sehaku vs. Yuji Sakuragi.

Condit is a teammate of Thomas Schulte, who was defeated by Kitaoka in Pancrase’s July show, so Condit is looking to take revenge.

Yuji Sakuragi is a kick boxer who KO’d Akihiro Gono in a kick boxing bout earlier this year.
Pancrase also announced that Masyuki Kono, a popular pro-wrestler who made his MMA debut in July, would be fighting in this show. (09/09/2005)

On September 2nd, Pancrase announced that Yoshiki Takahashi would face Kestutis Arbocius from Lithuania in the Yokohama show scheduled on October 2nd.

Arbocius is a former Karate-ka from Shidokan with MMA record of 4-3-0. He made his Pancrase debut back in December of last year against Daisuke Watanabe.
Arbocius is currently 2-0 in Pancrase light-heavyweight bouts and he is now moving up to heavyweight to face Takahashi.

Takahashi lost to Igor Vovchanchyn in PRIDE 29, but in Pancrase July show, scored a W against Yuji Sakuragi with an armbar.
Pancrae also announced that Mitsuru Sato, Satoru Kitaoka, and Yuji Sakuragi would be fighting in this Yokohama show. (09/03/2005)

Sanae Kikuta tore a ligament inside his right knee and it will take two months for a full recovery so the title match against Yuki Kondo scheduled on October 2nd in Yokohama is now cancelled.

Kikuta himself explained the situation at a press conference held at P’s LBA in Tokyo on August 25th.

Agonized Sanae Kikuta (left) at the press conference.

The injury happened during grappling practice on August 16th. When he held a clinch, because of the sweat on the matt he slipped and hurt his right knee. Kikuta said he heard a sharp pop when that happened. He told the media that it was a pure accident.

Kikuta has experiences of injuring his right knee but at this point, he is not certain if this injury has something to do with right knee problems he suffered in the past.
On August 24th, the doctor officially gave Kikuta a No-go so he had no choice but to declare a DNP for the Yokohama show.

Bitterly disappointed Kikuta told the media, “I am shocked because, no matter what, I really wanted to fight Kondo. In terms of mental and physical, I was in good shape” but he is hoping to fight Kondo before end of this year.

According to Pancrase Managing Director Sakamoto, Kondo is saying, “Anytime would be fine. (to fight Kikuta)”

However, after this Yokohama show in October, Pancrase only has two shows left in their 2005 calendar – at Korakuen Hall on 11/04 and at Differ Ariake on 12/04 – and both venues seem a little too small for the Kondo vs. Kikuta King of Pancrase title bout. Therefore Pancrase is now considering adding one more show but nothing has been announced till this date.
In terms of Kondo’s opponent for this Yokohama show, normally, this challenger’s spot would be filled with the second ranked fighter in the Pancrase light-heavyweight category – Akihiro Gono.

However Gono is confirmed to fight in the PRIDE Bushido GP and is now training under the same boxing trainer as Kondo, so Kondo vs. Gono, at this point, is an impossibility.
Pancrase finished the press conference by stating that they are looking to announce Kondo’s opponent by mid-September. (08/26/05)

It's official!
Yuki Kondo will defend his King of Pancrase title against 2001 ADCC World Champion and a former Light-heavyweight King of Pancrase Sanae Kikuta in the upcoming Pancrase Yokohama show on October 2nd.

Sanae Kikuta (left) with Yuki Kondo (right) at today's press conference.

Pancrase held a press conference with Kondo and Kikuta, on August 5th, at P's LAB in Tokyo and revealed that this match-up was requested from the Kikuta side and Kondo accepted without any hesitations.

Kikuta is determined, "Ever since the last fight against Kondo, I was somehow woolly-minded and suddenly, in the last month, I realized that I have to do this fight. Then I just couldn't sit still so I asked Pancrase to make this fight happen."

Also, Kikuta confessed, "I am thinking about beating Kondo more than getting the belt back. Kondo, to me, he is more than just a rival."
Kikuta then finished his interview with the media, "I am going to show a fight where people would feel, oh, Kikuta is different now."

On the other side, the champion looked confident, "In the past two fights (vs. Kikuta), I was a challenger. This time I am in the position where I am now accepting a challenge so I am feeling the pressure. I am not just looking to win, I want to have a convincing win." Then Kondo showed the pride of champion by stating, "I am not thinking about losing. I want to dominate and win."

Kondo and Kikuta have fought twice in the past. In their first encounter, Kikuta defended his King of Pancrase title with a 1-1 draw (March, 2003) but six months later, Kondo KO'd Kikuta (0'08" in the 3R) and captured the Light-heavyweight King of Pancrase title.

Kondo was rumored to be participating in this year's PRIDE Bushido Welterweight GP but now it is fair to assume that Kondo has decided to stick with Pancrase instead." (08/05/2005)

"SEGA SAMMY Presents PANCRASE 2005 SPIRAL TOUR"
October 2nd, 2005
At Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, Kanagawa, Japan
Gates Open: 16:00
Fights Start: 17:00

confirmed card -

Pro-Bout #1 Heavyweight 3x5 min rounds

YOSHIKI TAKAHASHI (Japan / Pancrase) vs KESTUTIS ARBOCIUS (Lithuania/ Latvia Shidokan)

Pro-Bout #2 Open-weight 2x5 min rounds

MASAYUKI KONO (Japan / freelance) vs ASLAN DZEBOEV (Russia/ Marupro Gym)

Pro-Bout #3 Open-weight 2x5 min rounds

HIKARU SATO (Japan / PANCRASEism) vs POAI SUGANUMA (Japan / TWIST)

Pro-Bout #4 Heavyweight 2x5 min rounds

LEE SEGAK (Japan / Wajutsukeishukai RJW) vs YUJI SAKURAGI (Japan / Seiken Kaikan)

Pro-Bout #5 Welterweight 3x5 min rounds

SATORU KITAOKA (Japan /PANCRASEism) vs CARLOS CONDIT (U.S.A./ Fighters In Training)

Semifinal Super Heavyweight 3x5 min rounds

TSUYOSHI "TK" KOSAKA (Japan /Team Alliance) vs MIKE KYLE (U.S.A. / Team CroCop)

Main Event Light Heavyweight 3x5 min rounds

YUKI KONDO (Japan / PANCRASEism) vs HIROMITSU KANEHARA (Japan / U.K.R.)

Ticket Prices:
VIP - 16,000 yen (SOLD OUT)
SS - 13,000 yen
RS A - 8,000 yen
RS B - 6,500 yen
2nd Floor
A - 10,000 yen
B - 6,000 yen
3rd Floor
5,000 yen
*500 yen more at the door.