World ranked flyweight MMA fighter Mamoru Yamaguchi scored a huge victory in ShootBoxing on Monday. The former two-division Shooto champion defeated number one ranked 123-pound ShootBoxer Naguranchun Masa M16 via decision. The win marks the third ShootBoxing fight by Yamaguchi, and it puts him in contention for the promotions 123-pound championship.
ShootBoxing is a K-1 style sport that incorporates takedowns, followed by immediate stand ups, and standing submissions. Although it was not an MMA fight, PRO MMA (promma.info) still has the info. Yamaguchi decided to go outside the sport of MMA after dropping the final chapter of his trilogy against Shooto 123-pound champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima. With an 0-2-1 record against the champion and a lack of quality opposition, he decided to get a fresh start somewhere else.
With the flyweight division set to expand, perhaps fighters like Yamaguchi will be able to have a home at their natural MMA weight class. A fighter of his caliber, most sites have him ranked in the top three, should always be able to get fights. Until then, Mamoru Yamaguchi will do his best to become the world’s top 123-pound ShootBoxer.
Full results from Japan-MMA.com
Tyler Toner Def. Kenichi Ogata by KO Round 1 3:00
Hiroki Shishido Def. Luke Meitland by standing Guillotine Choke Round 2 1:15
Takaaki Umeno Def. Kenji Kanai by TKO Round 5 2:02
Hiroaki Suzuki Def. Tomohiro Oikawa by KO Round 3 3:00
Mamoru Yamaguchi Def. Nagurachun Martha M16 by Decision (after ext.) 3-0
Takeshi Ishikawa Def. Koya Shimada by TKO Round 1 1:26
Kengo Shimizu Def. Koji Iga by KO Round 1 2:41
Kazuyuki Fushimi Def. Hiroaki Okuwa by Decision 3-0
Tatsuhiro Takashima Def. Tomonori Suzuki by standing Choke Round 3 1:40