Shootboxing S-Cup Tournament Brackets Set

Shootboxing announced the brackets for their upcoming 2010 S-Cup on November 23, and there are definitely some intriguing match-ups.

Probably the most noteworthy fight pits Shootboxing veteran and top Japanese fighter Hiroki Shishido against Buakaw Por. Pramuk.  This is a rematch from their 2006 K-1 MAX encounter - a fight where Buakaw destroyed Shishido, swiftly knocking out and embarrassing the proud fighter.  Shishido is dead set on revenge and will get his chance here.  While you have to favor Buakaw by a significant margin, Shishido does have two distinct advantages in this fight.  First, he's fighting under Shootboxing rules - a rule set he is very skilled at utilizing, and a rule set Buakaw has never competed under.  Shishido has capitalized on his opponent's unfamiliarity with Shootboxing techniques before, and surely will try to do so here.  Second, he is driven and hungry to avenge that loss.  Still, there's a chasm of talent between Buakaw and Shishido.  I'm not sure drive and rules will be enough for Shishido to cross it, but it certainly brings him closer.

Also in the quarter-finals, defending champion Andy Souwer faces Thai brawler Bovy Sor. Udomson.  Bovy will likely try to push the pace, but Souwer is just way too technically skilled for him.  However, it will be nice to see how Souwer responds here - if he is able to keep it a technical fight or if Bovy drags him into a brawl.  In what should be a crazy fight, Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett faces Shootboxing's top young 70kg fighter Takaaki Umeno.  Both fighters love to put on entertaining battles, so this should be a good one.  Finally, Australian Greg Foley returns to Shootboxing after being choked out by Shishido to face Henri van Opstal. 

Semi-finals have the Souwer/Bovy winner v. Umeno/Bennett, and Buakaw/Shishdo v. Foley/van Opstal.  Right now, I'd picking Souwer v. Umeno, Buakaw v. van Opstal, and the inevitable Souwer v. Buakaw final with Souwer taking the tournament win.  Very excited to see how it plays out though.

Also announced for the show in a superfight - Hiroaki Suzuki, one of Shootboxing's top players, faces former Pride and Dream fighter Mitsuhiro Ishida.  This is a bizarre and unexpected match, as Ishida not only has no kickboxing experience, he's also a fighter known almost exclusively for his wrestling.  Best remembered for slowly smothering Gilbert Melendez and Marcus Aurelio in 2006/07, Ishida is a fighter I just can't see being effective at all in a stand-up setting.  Count me in as someone who will be happy once we get past this current phase of bringing underwhelming MMA fighters with no relevant experience into kickboxing.  This is the second announced super fight, as we already have Tomohiro Oikawa vs. DJ.taiki, plus the retirement ceremony for Kenichi Ogata.