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Leo Santos vs. Kazunori Yokota title eliminator set for May Sengoku event
A lightweight bout between Leo Santos (6-2) and Kazunori Yokota (8-2-3) has been signed for World Victory Road's upcoming "Sengoku Eighth Battle" event.
The event takes place May 2 at the National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, and features the second round of the organization's recently commenced featherweight grand prix.
The Santos vs. Yokota fight could determine a future opponent for current Sengoku lightweight champion and 2008 lightweight grand prix winner Satoru Kitaoka (24-8-9).
Sengoku Eighth Battle is expected to air live in North America on HDNet.
Sengoku confirmed the bout and its likely title implications on a recent edition of its TV show that airs in Japan. The winner is expected to earn a title shot with Kitaoka, who won the belt with a victory over Takanori Gomi in January, at Sengoku Tenth Battle in August.
Santos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from the famed Nova Uniao team, signed with WVR earlier this year. The Shooto veteran enters the organization with a five-fight win streak, which includes four straight first-round stoppages.
Yokota, meanwhile, is a longtime DEEP fighter who debuted with WVR at Sengoku Fourth Battle in 2008. He's 2-1 in the organization, which includes unanimous-decision victories over Bojan Kosednar and Mizuto Hirota and a November unanimous-decision loss to Kitaoka in the finale of the organization's lightweight grand prix. He could get a chance to avenge the loss if he defeats Santos.
The event takes place May 2 at the National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, and features the second round of the organization's recently commenced featherweight grand prix.
The Santos vs. Yokota fight could determine a future opponent for current Sengoku lightweight champion and 2008 lightweight grand prix winner Satoru Kitaoka (24-8-9).
Sengoku Eighth Battle is expected to air live in North America on HDNet.
Sengoku confirmed the bout and its likely title implications on a recent edition of its TV show that airs in Japan. The winner is expected to earn a title shot with Kitaoka, who won the belt with a victory over Takanori Gomi in January, at Sengoku Tenth Battle in August.
Santos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from the famed Nova Uniao team, signed with WVR earlier this year. The Shooto veteran enters the organization with a five-fight win streak, which includes four straight first-round stoppages.
Yokota, meanwhile, is a longtime DEEP fighter who debuted with WVR at Sengoku Fourth Battle in 2008. He's 2-1 in the organization, which includes unanimous-decision victories over Bojan Kosednar and Mizuto Hirota and a November unanimous-decision loss to Kitaoka in the finale of the organization's lightweight grand prix. He could get a chance to avenge the loss if he defeats Santos.