Monteiro's interview from the Sengoku Ofiicial Site

Fabricio "Pitbull" Monteiro interview from the Sengoku Official Site posted on Feb 15.

- What do you think about Sengoku?

I think Sengoku will be the best MMA event in the world. I hope I can be a champion in Sengoku.

- What do you think about your opponent, Nick Thompson?

He is a very strong fighter and that's why he is a champion of Bodog.

- Tell me about your fight plan.

I think our fight will be a great fight no matter what. I have been ready to fight him. I did my best preparing for this fight. My fight will be an unforgettable fight for my fans.

- What do you want to show your fans?

I want to show how aggressive I am. I had very hard training to be aggressive.

- Who would you like to fight in Sengoku?

I want to fight champions. I always enjoy a big fight!

- What would you like to achieve in MMA?

I want to be a champion and I believe my dream comes true in Japan.

- Any message to your fans?

I trained really hard to show a tremendous fight. Please come and see my fight, and let's celebrate my victory!

http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/topics/2008/02/02152/02152.html

Thompson interview from the Sengoku official site

Nick Thompson's interview was posted on Feb 14.

- What do you think about Sengoku?

I think Sengoku will be a No.1 MMA event, because this event is held in a county which people understand MMA the most, and has top MMA fighters. I'm very honored to be a part of this event.

- What do you think about your opponent, Fabricio "Pitbull" Monteiro?

He has great techniques and he has defeated tough opponents before. His score is 16 won and 6 lost now and it will be 16 won and 7 lost on Mar 6.

- Tell me about your fight plan.

I imagine I will take a mount position and pound him. I know my Japanese fans support me and cheer me up.

- What do you want to show your fans?

I always aim at TKO victory or KO victory and I did it in last 10 fights.

- Do you have any fighters you want to fight in Sengoku?

I want to fight good Japanese fighters like Mach Sakurai.

- What would you like to achieve in MMA?
I have only one thing in my mind now. It's to be a champion in Sengoku.

- Any message to your fans?

I'm excited to fight in Japan, and you will be enthused watching my fight. I will do my best.

http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/topics/2008/02/0214/0214.html

Barnett`s interview

Barnett's interview from the Sengoku official site posted on Feb 10.

- What do you think about Yoshida?

I have trained with him before and he is one of my close friends. I'm excited to fight him in Sengoku to be honest. We will enjoy fighting for sure. He is a great fighter and has a great personality as well. I will do everything I can do to win and I know that what he wants from me. I will do my best to KO him.

- What do you think about Sengoku?

I know GOKU means extreme. Our fight will be extreme.

- Could you tell me your fight plan?

3.5 min. per round is very short amount of time to finish him. I would like to have an amazing main event. I will be aggressive from the beginning and want to finish as quick as I can.

- What do you want to show your fans?

I know our fans expect a lot from me. At the same time, I always keep my mind on having exciting fights to satisfy them, because I'm a professional fighter. I would like to have an impressive fight which is transmitted by everybody including MMA fans, and which my students can learn from.

- Who would you like to fight in Sengoku?

I will fight any strong fighters. I would like to fight Roger Gracie because I want to defeat the Gracie family? I would like to fight a lot as a belt holder of Pancrase.

- Any message to your fans?

Thank you for always supporting me. I'm glad to have a chance to fight in Japan again. Please come to the event and be witnesses of a new MMA history.

http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/topics/2008/02/02101/02101.html

Yoshida interview ~ My fight will be really exciting ~

Yoshida's interview which was posted Feb 10 on the Sengoku official website.

- What do you think about your opponent, Josh?

I respect him and consider he is one of top fighters in the world. He is an well rounded fighter who is good in a ground position as well as in a standing position. I have to be careful of getting his submission techniques including leg locks. He is definitely a tough opponent. I think Josh always has exciting fights and his fights attract fans. I believe we will have an amazing fight.

- What do you think about Sengoku?

It is a brand new event. All fighters and staff of this event will work together to succeed. I will do my best to make this event attractive for young fighters.

- Any prediction for your fight?

I have trained with him before and I know pretty well about his fighting style, but it is hard to say what he does in our fight. I haven't decided if I wear gi or not. I know I have a risk easily getting his leg locks when I wear gi. I know fans want to see me in gi though. It is hard decision to make.

- What do you want to show your fans?

I would like to show my fans my aggressive fighting style. Josh always tries to entertain his fans like I told you earlier. I will try to fight aggressively by maintaining my fighting spirit well. I think a fighter who has a strong mentality will win this fight and I don't thinks this fight will be boring.

- Who else do you want to fight?

I would like to fight any strong fighters.

- Any message to your fans?

I would like to have an exciting fight to attract fans to this new event. Thank you for supporting me.

Baroni and Kikuta don't fight on Mar 05.

Sengoku announced on Feb 12 that Phil Baroni cancelled his fight on Mar 05 because he injured his right shoulder while he was training.

Sengoku considered to look for a new opponent for Kikuta. On Feb 13, they decided to not let him fight on Mar 05 but will in their next event. The reason why Sengoku made this decision is Kikuta isn't in a good condition anyways because he has old wounds damaged by training. Sengoku figured out to let him fight whenever he is in the better condition.

http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/topics/2008/02/0213/0213_1.html

Yoshida & Gomi trained together

Hidehiko Yoshida and Takanori Gomi trained together at J-ROCK workout studio on Feb 15.

Gomi asked him to train together. After they trained 2 hours from noon, they let press in and showed their training a bit. Gomi seemed as though he very much enjoyed and was satisfied with this opportunity. Gomi said, Yoshida was his idol for more than 10 years and he was honored to fight in the same ring with him. After Yoshida asked Gomi not to flatter him, he said Gomi is a lot lighter than himself, however, he felt his power and strength of his body.

It is less than 3 weeks before their fights in Sengoku on Mar 5. Yoshida said, it is wasting his time thinking too much. I do what I can do now to win. He trains with a hero of Ssireum, Lee Tae Hyun, and prepares for the fight with Josh who has good grappling skills.

Gomi focuses on the striking in the training. He said he will start running and check all the ground techniques and prepare for his fight. He also said he is going to exchange punches and won't lose by strikes.

After training, Yoshida said he really enjoyed training with Gomi and would like to do this again to develop their skills. Gomi said this is his first time to train outside of his gym in last year and a half. He could mainly train Judo techniques and would like to train there again. He said he felt Judo specialists must be tough opponents for him.

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/headlines/etc/20080215-00000014-spnavi-fight.html

K-taro said I continue fighting!

K-taro Nakamura updated his blog.

I'm sorry I don't update my blog often. I'm still in the U.S. and stay in Albuquerque. It is very rural. I will watch the fight of Takatani tomorrow.

In my fight, I was too late to put my switch in and I was too relaxsed. I would like to be energetic from the beginning if I have another chance. I wonder if I get a call from the UFC? I guess I won't hear from them again. I would like to fight again soon! I don't retire.