Orihara Izaya
A lightweight battle features 2 ASTRAL newcomers, Finland’s Bob Le Bricoleur (2-2) and Tokyo’s own Nyk Siuh (2-1). The two are no strangers, having just had a 3 round battle a week ago. Some factors that may play into this fight are Le Bricoleur’s energy levels and Siuh’s injury and morale. Both fighters need a win here, which would put one of them into the mix at the top of the 155 division. Siuh’s boxing is no match for Le Bricoleur’s, though Le Bricoleur was unable to finish Siuh in their last fight. Siuh’s BJJ brown belt will give him the advantage on the ground, though he was unable to take Le Bricoleur down last time even once. If Le Bricoleur can reaccomplish what he did last time, he will take the second meeting of these two fighters.
In the light heavyweight division, we see Japan’s Inuyasha Kagome (2-0) take on the United Kingdom’s “Killer” David Tatum (2-0). This is Tatum’s ASTRAL debut and Kagome’s second fight in the organization. Interestingly enough, the two fighter’s combined record of 4-0 feature 4 unanimous decision victories. The fighter’s styles cancel each other out as Kagome is a Muay Thai fighter and Tatum is a boxer. On the ground, Kagome is a wrestler and Tatum is a BJJ blue belt. Their styles cancel each other out but Kagome goes in with the upper hand. The keys to this fight will be their game plans, if Kagome can counter effective and control Tatum on the ground, he will earn the decision. On the other hand, Tatum’s well roundedness could leave Kagome baffled and possibly earn a submission victory on the ground.
Croatian Dr. Mirko Barnett (14-7) takes on Mexico’s “Gabo” Flores (8-7). Flores is coming into the fight with a 2 win streak while Barnett looks to bounce back from a loss. The fight will take place at the megaton division, though both fighters qualify for the heavyweight division. Barnett is the crowd favorite, though Flores’ skills speak for themselves. The winner of this fight should look to stand atop the 265+ division, which seems to be quite thin at the moment. Barnett is more experienced, and if he uses his Muay Thai well, he could get the KO or the decision with strong clinching.
In a battle of Japan, Gifu’s Mizuno Michimochi (0-1) takes on Yokohama’s Hidetaka Sato (2-4) in the 155 division. Both fighters are coming off losses, though Sato has dropped 4 in a row. Sato has the better stand-up, and they are fairly even on the ground. Michimochi will likely be the fan favorite coming into the fight, but if Sato has been working hard in the gym, he may leave the arena with the crowd chanting his name, and Michimochi hanging his head.
In the middleweight division, Japan’s Tetsuhiro “Iron” Uwano (2-0) takes on Ukraine’s Yuri Smchalenko (4-2). Uwano was impressive in his ASTRAL debut, dominating the match to a unanimous decision victory. Smchalenko won his previous 2 fights by submission via armbar. Smchaleno is the #2 middleweight in ASTRAL and Uwano falls right behind him at #3. This fight could set up a potential top contender fight against Mirko Vucinic who won his last fight at ASTRAL.3 COURAGE. The keys to this match will be the takedowns. If Smchalenko can take the fight to the ground, he will have the upper hand. But if Uwano’s takedown defense is on par, Smchalenko won’t see round 2.
Pawel Nastula (3-0) from Poland takes on Seattle, USA’s Maia Bee (1-0) in a welterweight bout. Both fighters are undefeated while Nastula is a ground fighter and Bee is a stand-up muay thai fighter. This is another classic example of striking vs grappling. In a relatively solid welterweight division, a win here can prove to be big for either fighter. The keys to this fight are Nastula’s takedowns and Bee’s takedown defense. Given Nastula’s experience, he will likely take the fight in a unanimous decision.
Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero (2-3) from Panama takes on Osaka’s “Yojimbo” Akira Kambei (1-0). Caballero desperately needs a victory, dropping his last three fights while Kambei looks to keep his record clean of any defeats. Caballero is a superb boxer, while Kambei is stronger in muay thai and is better on the ground as well. A win here will move either fighter up the rankings and the other to remain as a basement dweller. I can see Kambei countering well in the stand-up game, countering Caballero effective and then taking him to the mat for a decision win.
Osaka’s Masa Sakuruza (1-0) takes on Filipino Tiagong Akyat (2-1) at 185. Both fighters are relatively new to the sport with a combined 4 fights between the two of them. The style matchup is definitely unbalanced. Sakuruza won his last fight by decision, primarily by working the ground and pounding on his previous opponent. Unfortunately for him, Akyat is a BJJ brown belt, who can finish from the bottom or the top. If Sakuruza’s ground and pound is stronger than his last fight, expect a TKO; if not, Akyat will make him tap before the night is over.
Tokyo’s Takaku Fuke (2-3) takes on the Phillipines’ Robert Frankera (0-1) at 145. Both fighters have never finished a fight and it will be interesting to see if Fuke’s boxing and Frankera’s muay thai can change that in a battle of disciplines at ASTRAL 4. Fuke is better-rounded, and if he can take Frankera to the ground early and often, he will be able to avoid the kicks and grind out another decision victory.
