13 Feet High and Rising: Sengoku Raiden Championship 13 Commentary and Predictions (Conclusion)

If you haven't read the 1st part of the preview, you can do so by clicking here. Other than that let's start off where we left off.

Wouldn't You Like Maxi Too?

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that when MAXI (5W-2L) enters the ring, all hell breaks loose. The incredibly entertaining Venezuelan fighter always gives viewers something to talk about. Whether it's his insane pace or unorthodox style, MAXI is a fighter who always ends up delivering. I think of him sort of like Pop Rocks. Calm at first but when contact occurs anarchy ensues and it's all but impossible to stop. MAXI has had a very good run in SRC thus far going a combined (3W-1L) with the loss coming via DQ.

One of the things people forget about MAXI is the fact that he was brought in by SRC to their "Training Players" program. Essentially, it was a way for Sengoku to create new talent for them. They would pay for their training, promote the individual, and help them get into "smaller" shows like PANCRASE so that in the future they would be able to fight in SRC with some form of notoriety. MAXI and Shigeki Osawa were actually the 2 men chosen for this program. They had great wrestling credentials so SRC managment decided they would "groom" these men into potential players in the companies future. This is a really great concept but the payoff will ultimately be the deciding factor.

All indicators point towards a potential fight of the night when you mix MAXI with Rodrigo Damm (9W-3L). Damm is another individual who I'd add to my underachievers club. Damm and Andre Dida are exemplary members in the club. Damm's been kind of stifled in his MMA growth. He hasn't really been able to replicate his performances in "major" shows yet. And no BODOGFights was not a major show. Damm's sister, Carina, is infamous for being the 1st woman to ever be accused of doping in the United States.

MAXI "Can't stop, Won't stop." to quote Dave Chappelle as Diddy. I don't think Damm will able to handle the craziness that is MAXI. Too many unorthodox strikes from too many unorthodox angles. If by any chance Damm were to get the best of the standing exchanges then MAXI always has his wrestling to fall back upon. Damm is yet to really mature as a fighter, while MAXI keeps on improving and showing those improvements during his fights. Prediction: MAXI via KO (stomps)

A Very Little Bit of Seob

The Son of the Fisherman, Hiroshi Izumi (1W-1L) takes on Chang Seob Lee (3W-4L) in the lone heavyweight bout. There's really not that much to say about this bout. Izumi is a former Olympic Silver Medalist in Judo, who was given an ultimatum by his father last year. Either win or stop fighting MMA. With daddy's threats, Izumi was able to beat the much lighter Katsuyori Shibata to get his 1st MMA win last year at Dynamite!! 2009. And Chang Seob Lee? He's probably got the least impressive physique of any MMA fighter I've seen since the DEEP Megaton GP. Remember that? Prediction: Izumi via ippon. (Seriously, they'd probably have no choice but to stop the fight after.)

Eye Know

I know I sound like a broken record when I say this but Shigeki Osawa (5W-1L) is awesome. It's been years since I've really felt convinced that a prospect could potentially just explode into one of the big players in his respective scene. Unlike Ikuo Usuda, another good prospect, Osawa has this cocky demeanor in the way he walks and the way he fights. It's very in your face on both fronts. He excudes confidence at all times. His fighting style reflects that about him. He's relentlessly pushing forward at all costs and at all times. Like I mentioned before he was one of two prospects hand picked by SRC management to build up for the future.

Personally, I think this one could pay off big time if handled correctly.He's really got a lot of things in his favor to blossom into a star. A relatively stale Japanese MMA scene screaming for new faces, a company that's willing to aide in his development as a fighter and obviously his natural MMA talent. His wrestling base was the most ideal transition to MMA and he's been able to really show off his great wrestling and his improved striking in his last fights. He definitely has a long way to go but the future is incredibly bright for him. He reminds me alot of that new wave of wrestling lightweights that the UFC contracted a couple years ago like Gray Maynard, Jim Miller and Frank Edgar.

The only thing standing in Osawa's rise to fame are his opponents. Katsuya Toida (12W-9L-3D) will be his toughest to date. Toida a long time SHOOTO standout is giving the "major" MMA circuit another try. He previously fought in K-1 HERO'S where he lost to Atsushi Yamamoto. He was never invited back. Throughout his career he's really fought an impressive number of SHOOTO icons like Alexandre Franca Noguiera, Rumina Sato and SHOOTO champions Lion Takeshi Inoue and Hatsu Hioki. He's definitely out to make a name for himself in SRC.

Toida does have a fairly good submission game but Osawa's submission and takedown defense are also impressive. I think the scrambles for position will be incredibly entertaining to see. Both men aren't necessarily at the K-1 level on the feet. Maybe Koshien. I definitely have to give the strength advantage to Osawa, which he uses well during his fights. The memory of that Triple Suplex still really baffles me. I don't expect an instant classic from this one but a really good grappling chess match that could be decided on the feat. Prediction: Osawa via unanimous decision.

Kanehara Taught Me (Masanori's Revenge)

All it took was 0:09 seconds for Marlon Sandro (16W-1L) to knock out Tomonari Kanomata in a professional MMA bout. It took Usain Bolt 0:0958 seconds to run 100 meters. Which is more impressive? it just shows the shear explosiveness and power that Sandro can be capable of. Sengoku Featherweight Champion Masanori Kanehara (15W-6L-5D) will look to try and kill the momentum that Sandro has built up in the last few years. It doesn't help Kanehara's motivation that the man stretchered off after 0:09 seconds was his senpai.

I'm really looking forward to this fight because there are so many potential variables. Does Sandro have the cardio for 5 rounds? Will Kanehara become over confident with his hands? Personally, I think the dictation of the pace is extremely crucial to this fight and will most likely determine the winner. In past fights we've seen Kanehara shine in the stand-up realm and for 1 reason. His ability to settle in, and use his long reach incredibly effectively. When he's able to slow down the pace and exchange, he finds his rhythm incredibly fast and frustrates his usually smaller counterparts.

The problem with Kanehara lies in the fact that sometimes when opponents rush him, he gets completely thrown off his game. It's bizarre. His take down defense is good but in a very slow predictable way. When somebody gets in his face and tries to dictate the pace he just completely falls apart. Sandro does come in at a furious pace with the exchanges but not the wrestling like a Takafumi Otsuka or a Chan Sung Kim, who both gave Kanehara a hell of a bad time. Kanehara really needs to slow this fight down. Be patient and meticulous and look to push Sandro beyond the 3 round marker.

I think most people are thinking are just counting down the seconds until Sandro connects cleanly. And that's a very valid point. Last year Sandro became a knock out machine. He's a featherweight with welterweight punching power, he's incredibly precise and accurate and plus he's got an incredibly solid chin. If Kanehara decides to try to exchange power punches with Sandro, it's almost a foregone conclusion that he'll be leaving on a stretcher. Sandro needs to keep this on the feat at all costs. Kanehara always gets too comfortable on his feat. Sandro needs to capitalize before Kanehara starts looking to shoot on him. Sandro's got incredible take down defense that should really prevent him from ending on his back in the early rounds. Only in the early rounds.

In the Michihiro Omigawa fight Sandro really got pushed to the brink and ended up losing a very close fight. His power was almost a non-factor in the 3rd round. He remained incredibly accurate but nowhere near as strong. He also became susceptible to the take down, which ended up losing him the bout. Sandro's cardio can be a huge problem for him in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th round. The Omigawa fight was almost a year ago and hopefully he's improved his cardio dramatically because he'll definitely need it.

As far as my personal pick, I'd have to pick Kanehara. Kanehara's striking is being overlooked. His great chin is being overlooked. His submission ability is being overlooked. HE is being completely overlooked. Sandro doesn't have nearly the experience against top competition like Kanehara. Sandro's toughest opponent to date is Omigawa. Kanehara on the other hand has beat KID Yamamoto, the Korean Zombie and even Michihiro Omigawa. Obviously, there's a good chance of Sandro knocking out Kanehara. But Kanehara can also do the same to him. Kanehara can also submit him if the option is available. If need be, Kanehara can grind out a long decision. Sandro is limited to his ways of winning, while Kanehara has more tools available to him. Prediction: Kanehara via unanimous decision.

This show will be airing on Friday the 25th on HDNet in the United States, 5 days after the event. The end of group play in the World Cup and awesome MMA action from Japan all in one day. What more do you want?