Grandslam: Way of the Cage Results & Discussion

Grandslam – Way of the Cage
July 13, 2014
Differ Ariake
Tokyo, Japan

Main Card:
                                             Bantamweight
Hideo Tokoro(32-26)         Vs          (6-1)Victor Henry
                                                Flyweight
Shunichi Shimizu(28-9)     Vs        (8-4)Yosuke Saruta
                                             Featherweight
Kenichi Ito(12-11)            Vs           (18-13)Nam Phan
                                             Featherweight
Koji Mori(10-3)                 Vs                                   TBA
                                                Middleeight
Bob Armstrong(1-0)          Vs               (3-2)Luke Mori
                                               Lightweight
Kota Okazawa(11-9)         Vs      (8-8)Daisuke Hoshino
                                                 Flyweight
Setsu Iguchi(8-2)              Vs        (2-4)Taku Kajikawa
                                                Bantamweight
Takeshi Kashiwazaki(7-0)   Vs  (1-0)Takahiro Furumagi
                                                  Flyweight
Tokuaki Ninomiya(4-6)       Vs          (5-3)Yuichi Miyagi

Yokohama Grand Slam Founder Shuichiro Katsumura has announced the start of a new MMA promotion called “Grandslam – Way of the Cage”. The first event will be July 13, 2014 at Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan

During a press release today, Katsumura announced the promotion’s purpose was to increase the opportunities for Japanese fighters in a cage. The event will welcome everything from amateurs to professionals returning from injury or released from overseas promotions, as well as former champions looking to work back into contention.

The rules will be Unified. Japanese fighters mentioned as possible starters include Shunichi Shimizu, ZST Featherweight Champ Koji Mori, Kenichi Ito, Yosuke “Flying Monkey No. 2″ Saruta, and Setsu Iguchi. All of their opponents are to be determined. The fight card should be released Soon.
Nam Phan and Josh Barnett’s student Victor Henry were also announced.

Ugh, Saruta left Shooto for this? Lame shit.

It's cool to know what Katsumura is up to these days, though.

They need a better "fist up" pose.

So cage in Japan interesting?

Hideo Tokoro will fight at the event

This is starting to sound serious, now.

What´s up with the fetish for the cage? These promotions think they will make more money just because UFC uses a cage but I think the asian audience prefer the ring. The sport is moving in the wrong direction, the ring should be in charge and the american promotions should try to immitate the japanese version of mma.

another cage promotion   

Problem is Japanese fans aren't turning out to support orgs using rings and all fighters are heading to north America now.

Basically changing with the times ....

It's so Japanese guys don't have the disadvantage of not being familiar with cage.

Also they are using unified rules.

Ksw pancrase all are doing same thing.

I hear its hard for you to be sanctioned if you don't use unified rules and cage atleast that's the case in north America.

RussianTopTeam wrote:another cage promotion   

Same way I feel

Japan isn't regulated so any promotion is free to do whatever the fuck they like.

Doesn't matter if it's in a cage or ring, all the Japanese fans care to see are stars and good fights. The VTJ reboot has been fantastic but it'd be just as good in a ring.

fka wrote:Problem is Japanese fans aren't turning out to support orgs using rings and all fighters are heading to north America now.

Basically changing with the times ....

It's so Japanese guys don't have the disadvantage of not being familiar with cage.

Also they are using unified rules.

Ksw pancrase all are doing same thing.

Some things change for the worse, especially for those who feel oldschool JMMA was the best version of mma.

^Agreed

I love old school jmma but I also don't mind cage.

I'd love for a BIG ring company but IR just isn't really happening anywhere.

Not sure the reason

Everyone wants to go to north America to the big 2 so I guess some orgs are OK just feeding the north American orgs.

Just glad a new jmma org is opening up

"GRANDSLAM-Way of the Cage-" card announcement press conference has taken place on the 12th (Sunday Differ Ariake July 13).  Hideo Tokoro will fight against the disciple of Josh Barnett ,Victor Henry .

 5 minutes 3R main event bantamweight 
 Hideo Tokoro (reversal Musashi Kosugi Station Plus)
 Victor Henry (USA / CSW)

 5 minutes 3R   flyweight
 (3rd Uruno dojo / Pancras bantamweight) Shunichi Shimizu
 Hisaronu ☆ No.2 (reversal Jim Kawaguchi Ridipusu / Shooto bantamweight (56kg) World 3rd)

 5 minutes 3R  64kg agreement
 Nam Phan (U.S. / Paraesutora Hachioji)
 Kenichi Ito (Carpe Diem)


Full fight card on the top page

That's Shimizu x Saruta for those that can read Google Translate. Solid fight and would be a good name for Saruta's resume.

I don't mind the cage, but UGH! unified rules!  Can we just get rid of them now!  Unified rules was tailor made for judge screw ups and fixes.
When a new org comes by I get excited, but as soon as I see unified rules I lose interest. I want to see some improvement in the sport! Not another UFC wannabe!

(click on the image for the Stream)

At this event, there is new trial for audience.This Ustream iPPV is 800 yen for last 3 fights (Tokoro vs Henry, Nam vs Ito and Shimizu vs Saruta).So if you interest other fights, it is free.So if you want test yourself watching Japanese local MMA live, this is your occasion.Of course it's local MMA and not major, but you can see "local" feel at here.If you want see last 3 fight, which is near major level card, you can pay to them for support their come back story."Way of the cage" start July 13 5:30PM (Japanese time).

One thing I agree with a lot of people on here is the distaste for the cage. I think eventually we'll get the ring back. The cage is not a bad setting but I'd prefer the old Vale Tudo enormous circles with no walls.

Yeah I like cage and I like ring

But its funny to me when people argue cage isn't open enough and a ring is...

Real fairest way would be giant Matt but then I Bet people would complain of not enough action LOL.

I think there is enough room in the world for 2 versions of mma pride ruled in ring and unified north American cage version.

If anyone is interested in buying

Results:

Victor Henry defeats Hideo Tokoro by KO, rd 2, 1:52
Yosuke Saruta defeats Shunichi Shimizu by Unanimous Decision
Nam Phan defeats Kenichi Ito by KO, rd 1, 4:27
Bob Armstrong defeats Yousuke by TKO, rd 1, :31
Daisuke Hoshino defeats Kota Okazawa by Unanimous Decision
Taku Kajikawa defeats Setsu Iguchi by Unanimous Decision
Takeshi Kashiwazaki defeats Takahiro Furumagi by Submission, RNC, rd 2, 2:21

Yuichi Miyagi defeats Tokuaki Ninomiya by Submission, RNC, rd 2, 4:03
Morishiman defeats Masaki Sakurazawa by KO, rd 1, 1:57
Daiki Kaneko defeats Hiroki Mihara by KO, rd 1, 4:29
Takuya Hirano defeats Kohei Maruyama by TKO, rd 1, :45
Satoshi Fujiwara defeats Shinya Sugimura by TKO, rd 1, 3:53
Kenta ‘Nagatsuka defeats Keisuke Tamaru by Submission, omoplata, rd 1, 4:32
Tetsuo Nakanishi defeats Takayuki Komazawa by TKO, Slam, rd 1, 1:35