Ishige Fights Arai; Tomomi Battles Takeshita on Pancrase 12/10 Card!
Pancrase fans shall be in a state of delight as Pancrase's 12/10 card comes into form with these latest announcemnts. Daizo Ishige is scheduled to fight Kenji Arai in a non-title bout, while Pancrase Athena Ace WINDY Tomomi fights Smackgirl 2006 Next Cinderealla Middleweight Champion Kanako Takeshita.
Arai is currently on a loosing streak of 0-2, the victim of a Jens Pulver knockout in April then losing to Robert Emerson in September. Arai will have to use his sharp striking abilities to overcome Ishige, who is himself no slouch in the stand-up department. Ishige, however, lacks power, something Arai can take comfort in. If the fight hits the ground, however, Arai will have to worry about Ishige's SK Absolute standard game.
Tomomi will have her hands full against Takeshita. Takeshita is a strong ground fighter, having overwhelmed all of her opponents in route to her tournament victory in Smackgirl. Tomomi, as well, already knows of Takeshita's ability intimately: in a grappling match in March of this year, Takeshita submitted Tomomi in three minutes and twenty-six seconds with an armbar. Her stand-up, however, cannot contend with what Tomomi has to offer. Thus, we have a classic 'striker vs. grappler' match which will either solidify Tomomi as dangerous in the world of women's MMA or prove Takeshita is the real deal, a situation not unlike that of 2005 Next Cinderella Champion Hitomi Akano going into her fight with Debi Purcell.
 |
|
 |
| Daizo Ishige |
|
WINDY Tomomi |
|
