April 29th Shooto Charity Card Adds Hioki, Loses Somdet

by Tim Burke on Apr 16, 2011 2:57 AM EDT

When the cops pulled Derek Suboticki over that fateful night in Colorado, this is what they saw when he got out of the truck.

Good news and bad news out of Japan today. Nightmare of Battle reports that Shooto's stacked April 29th card has added a superstar champion to it's ranks, but lost one at the same time. Dual belt holder Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2) has been thrown onto the card to face KOTC BW champ Donald Sanchez (22-10). Unfortunately though, strawweight (115lb) champion Rambaa "M-16" Somdet (8-2) has been forced to withdraw from the card due to an injury. On top of that, he's giving up the title and it will be up for grabs in a matchup between his former opponent Junji "Sarumaru" Ito (8-2) and another Junji. Yes folks, it's Junji Ikoma (13-12-6). Who isn't lining up to watch the battle of the Junjis? If you're not, you're missing out.

If you're new to Japanese MMA, let me spell this out for you - Hatsu Hioki should be the best man at your wedding. He's beaten heroes and villains the world over. It pains me to say this since I'm Canadian, but you know that guy that's challenging Jose Aldo for his title at UFC 129? That Mark Hominick guy? Yeah, Hatsu put the boots to him and strangled him the first time he met him in Canada. Mark came back for more at TKO 28, and our hero decided he'd show The Machine what 25 minutes meant...so he took him the distance. Guess who's hand got raised again? Yeah, you know what's up.

Fast forward five years and like 142 wins (and 3 terrible split decision losses)...Aldo's best friend and training partner Marlon Sandro? Hioki beat him like a government mule, boys. If you're sleeping on Hatsu Hioki, I'm waking you the [redacted by spoilsport Neil Manich] up. This man is the truth. I rank him top 10 P4P. No lies. Hatsu's worst enemy is a split decision, but that don't matter tonight.

This is what happens when you post late on a Friday night (and your boss told you to embrace your inner fanboy). Either way, even without M-16, April 29th is going to offer up one of the best Japanese cards of the year. And you better care or Roth's gonna run wild all over you!

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I don't think anybody is really sleeping on Hioki anymore

Not after the Sandro win.

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Head Kick Legend

by Neil Manich on Apr 16, 2011 3:08 AM EDT reply actions

It shocks me how people actually saw that fight though. Or even know of the result.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Apr 16, 2011 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Call me naive

But I think our readers have seen that fight plenty.

Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend

by Neil Manich on Apr 16, 2011 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions

You’re naive.

And I can’t believe you deleted my one swear word.

Still a Beer Monster.

http://www.instrength.com

by Tim Burke on Apr 16, 2011 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Hioki vs Donald? Wow…

"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson

by AintNoSunshine on Apr 16, 2011 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Wait a minute here.

1. I wasn’t pulled over, I was t-boned by an F-350 while we were both going 20-30 mph
2. I had a .000 BAC
3. I have a full beard

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Editor, HeadKickLegend.com
Contributor for CagesideSeats.com and Bloody Elbow Radio
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com

by Derek Suboticki on Apr 16, 2011 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

Hioki is number 2 in the world. Hopefully if he wins he vacates his title and the SRC title and SRC releases him and he signs with the UFC.

Fights vs Zombie, Nam, Omigawa rematch, Tyson Griffin/Manvel winner, Florian/Nunes winner are all interesting fights.

WIth Mendes, FLorian, Tyson, adding Hioki to the FW div would make for some good fights and challenges for Aldo should he beat Hominick.

Good card, sucks about M 16 though. But Taiki fighting Lion is a good fight, Taiki is a top FW prospect, believe Leland ranked him number 2 on hte prospect list.

Good card. I really hope Hioki signs with the UFC soon though. I hope he doesnt sign with Bellator like Sandro and Mann, though good signings I’d much rather see them and HIoki in the UFC FW div.

Ronnie Mann would have been perfect for the upcoming TUF 14 FW season. Only place for Hioki to go is UFC or Bellator, if he wants to be the best and fight hte best then he goes to the UFC which I hear he wants to fight in the UFC>

by Aldo27 on Apr 17, 2011 11:12 PM EDT reply actions