UPDATE: DEEP: Mayhem in Macau - Jan. 8th in Macau, China

by Brent Ducharme on Jan 5, 2011 9:10 PM EST in Japanese MMA News

The Japanese MMA promotion DEEP will be heading into China for the first time on January 8th. As its name indicates, the event will be held in Macau, just across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. The main event of the evening will be for the DEEP Megaton (think heavyweight, minus the weight limit) championship, as Yusuke Kawaguchi meets Kazuhisa Tazawa. DEEP bantamweight titleholder Masakazu Imanari will be in action, as will the promotion's welterweight champion Yuya Shirai. Oh, yeah, plus Andy Wang is going to fight too.

Promotional champion Yusuke Kawaguchi did not have the most impressive of years in 2010, as losses to former K-1 competitor Peter Graham (can be forgiven) and former World's Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski (cannot be forgiven) sandwiched decisions over James Thompson and Edmund Cavalcante Jr. The challenger, Tazawa, has amassed a 3-1-1 record against unproven competition since coming to the promotion in late 2008. One of those wins is via scarf hold, though. Hey, you don't see one every day.

Masakazu Imanari is set to meet 0-1 South Korean fighter Jae Hun Moon. Maybe the Ashikan Judan will give us a submission involving his opponent's leg? Wouldn't that be cool? Because I feel like that would be really cool. As long as nobody ends up severely injured.

Yuya Shirai will also be facing an 0-1 South Korean fighter, Jeong Gyo Park. Shirai won all three of his 2010 bouts, armbarring Che Mills in the second of those three. You might also remember him not wanting to submit against Jason High back at Dream 8.

Ryuta Sakurai is set to face Yoann Gouaida. Sakurai drew with Mamed Khalidov back in May, then was on the wrong end of a knee against DEEP middleweight champion Riki Fukuda at DEEP 49. Gouaida has had mixed results while competing in regional organizations such as Art of War and Martial Combat.

Full card after the jump.

Matthew Roth with an Update: The card has been cancelled. Kawaguchi is injured which has caused DEEP to reschedule the show.

Saori Ishioka vs. Ann Wongkhamma
Luiz Andrade I vs. Rodrigo Caporal
Marcos Souza vs. Alex Niu
Andy Wang vs. Yasushi Kitazaki
Ryuta Sakurai vs. Yoann Gouaida
Masakazu Imanari vs. Jae Hun Moon
Yuya Shirai vs. Jeong Gyo Park
Yusuke Kawaguchi vs. Kazuhisa Tazawa

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it should also be noted nearly everyone of ryuta’s losses came to very tough competition including bustamante, yushin okami, paulo philo, and fukuda like 4 times and he’s got a few nice wins on his record and Shirai has knocked off 5 straight since losing to high.. at the surface it looks pretty thin. but it’s not all bad.

by g1eooi on Jan 1, 2011 8:24 PM EST reply actions

Very true.

by Brent Ducharme on Jan 1, 2011 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

it would probably take me a few days to think of stuff to hype up Kawaguchi /Tazawa though ;) and andy wang sorta speaks for itself

by g1eooi on Jan 2, 2011 12:00 AM EST up reply actions

I tried with the scarf hold.

I really did.

by Brent Ducharme on Jan 2, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

So close, yet so far...

I wanted to go but I have exams for the next 2 weeks!

by Ernest Johann Helwig on Jan 2, 2011 1:21 AM EST reply actions

If you do end up going, please fanpost the experience

I’ll front page it.

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by Matthew Roth on Jan 2, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

so… the cliche/stereotype that Japan doesn’t like Korean is not really being helped by booking two rookies from Korea with 0-1 records against Japanese veterans

we mutha fuckin thug life riders westsiiiide till we die

by cosmic fist technique on Jan 2, 2011 4:47 AM EST reply actions

Megaton will always make me laugh

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by Neil Manich on Jan 2, 2011 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Word here in HK is that this is cancelled although there is nothing on the website (yet). Also have it from a very reliable source that DEEP was offering locals $1000 HKD (about $130 US) to fight Imanari.

by sonzai on Jan 4, 2011 2:43 AM EST reply actions

$130 to get your knee/ankle destroyed?

WHAT?!

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by Matthew Roth on Jan 4, 2011 3:07 AM EST up reply actions

That’s what I’d heard.

And here’s their announcement:
“Yusuke Kawaguchi, one of the main fighters in DEEP, has sustained seriously injury and is under doctor’s order to refrain from traveling or any physical activities. Please be announced that DEEP: Mayhem in Macao on 8 January 2011 will be postponed until further notice. DEEP and The Venetian® Macao sincerely regret this unavoidable postponement and apologizes to fans for any disappointment caused.”

by sonzai on Jan 4, 2011 3:11 AM EST up reply actions