Stefan Leko, Mighty Mo Included in RISE Heavyweight Tournament, Nov. 23rd

While the story of Japanese kickboxing in 2011 has been the success of Krush and concerns over the state of K-1, RISE has continued to put together solid showings and helped propel some domestic fighters to success on the larger stage.

Interestingly enough, it seems that the Japanese kickboxing promotion will, in fact, be hosting an eight-man heavyweight tournament on November 23rd - and half the field is already known.

The news came in earlier in the week from Nightmare of Battle:

RISE will hold an 8-man Heavyweight tournament on November 23rd at Tokyo Dome City Hall. Mighty Mo and Stefan Leko will participate (sent by K-1).

Fabiano Cyclone vs. Joey Kaptai(?) and Hiromi Amada vs. Tsutomu Takahagi on 7/23 RISE 80 are assessment fights for the tournament.

K-1 veterans Stefan Leko and Mighty Mo have both fallen on somewhat hard times inside the ring.

Mighty Mo has suffered three first round knockouts losses in a row. Peter Aerts began the streak at the K-1 World Grand Prix Final last year, Sergei Kharitonov continued it by blasting the American-Samoan in May, and Mladen Brestovac made it truly worrisome at the SuperKombat World Grand Prix II on July 16th.

As for Stefan Leko, the former K-1 World Grand Prix semifinalist's most impressive since, well, since he beat Mighty Mo in 2007 is either over Rodney Glunder or Nikolaj Falin. You can take your pick there.

As for the other two fighters set to be included in the November heavyweight tournament, Fabiano Cyclone and Hiromi Amada both proved victorious at RISE 80. It seems there will be two more qualifying bouts played out on September 23rd.