Sengoku Raiden Championships’s downward spiral continued on March 11 as the promotion announced that it’s primary sponsor, Don Quijote, had cut ties with the MMA brand.
A number of the company’s more prominent fighters have already signed elsewhere, including middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (UFC), heavyweight prospect Dave Herman (UFC), and former featherweight champion Marlon Sandro (Bellator).
In the press release, the MMA promotion says — via Google Transalte — that its “only hope” is for a new sponsor to fill the void left by Don Quijote’s departure.
Sengoku’s troubles are part of a growing concern over the future of all major MMA organizations in Japan. FEG, the parent company of DREAM and K-1, is also struggling, with numerous stories over the last few months of its combatants waiting weeks or even months to receive their paychecks. Also, Sherdog.com recently reported on a growing financial scandal within the Shooto organization.