HDNet and World Victory Road, owners of Sengoku MMA, have announced a long term deal that will bring all of the Sengoku events, in their entirety, to North American television for the first time ever. The first event of the contract will be Sengoku’s Seventh Battle, on March 20th. In 2009, HDNet will feature 25 events from Asia alone, due to the network’s partnerships with World Victory Road, DREAM, K-1, and K-1 MAX.
“We’re very happy to announce this partnership with World Victory Road and to bring the action of Sengoku to HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This continues our commitment to deliver the best MMA in the world. No one promotion or network can match the depth and breadth of MMA broadcast on HDNet.”
“SENGOKU held its very first match in March 2008, and the upcoming competition on March 20 will mark the promotion’s eighth event,” said Takahiro Kokuho, Executive Managing Director of World Victory Road Co. Ltd. “The high quality of our fighters and our competition have earned rave reviews from many of our fans and the media, and we are honored to have created a partnership with a renowned American network such as HDNet. We look forward to sharing the ultimate martial arts form with the U.S. and MMA fans around the world, and we are confident that MMA fans will be excited as well. We look forward to taking unified steps to establish Sengoku as a top MMA brand in the U.S.”
The March 20th card will feature Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal v. Ryo Kawamura in addition to the first round of a 16-man featherweight tournament. The fighters in the tournament, who have been announced so far are HATSU HIOKI, MICHIHIRO OMIGAWA, MASANORI KANEHARA, SHINTARO ISHIWATARI, SEIYA KAWAHARA, TETSUYA YAMADA, MARLON SANDRO, RONNIE USHIWAKA, CHRIS MANUEL, NICK DENIS, and JUNG CHAN SUNG.
The deal between WVR and HDNet has long been rumored to be in the works, and now that it is finalized, MMA fans, hardcore and newbies alike, will get a chance to see Japanese MMA and stars that they would otherwise never have a chance to, compete live.
By: Jeff Howard
Props: HDNetFights.com