FIGHTER INFO
Nickname: Baby Godzilla
From: Tokyo, Japan
Fights out of: Japan
Age: 27
Height: 5’5
Weight: 125 lbs / Strawweight
Reach: N/A
Affiliation: Gracie Technics
MMA Record: 7-4–0 (Win-Loss-Draw)
FIGHTER BIOGRAPHY
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When and why did you start training for fighting?
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X1#50 : World/State Title Champions
X1#50 FIGHTER Weigh-ins
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JAPAN’S NII WALKS OFF WITH THE X-1 LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE.
Zane Kamaka came into the cage fired up and dominated the one round match from the top position with punches, elbows and submission attempts. Bronzoulis verbally submitted to referee Kevin Yoshida prior to the start of round two. At the close of the contest, Kamaka took the center of the cage with his new X-1 Title draped by a handful of other title belts “I work too hard for this, UFC give me a call” Kamaka said.
Russell Mizuguchi def. Shojin Miki via Unanimous decision, for the Flyweight (125 lbs.) State Title (3X5 min. rounds)
Mizuguchi started off with a takedown and spent most of round one with ground control over Miki against the cage. In second round, Miki evened up the scorecard with increased pressure and strikes. Mizuguchi used takedowns and wrestling to control most of the fight. The match ended with Mizuguchi working Miki on the ground to become the State Flyweight champion via unanimous decision.
X-1 #49 GRAND PRIX RESULTS:
Kaeo Meyer def. Taison Naito
Michael Brightmon def. Kohmei Kimura
Suguru Nii def. Kenji Sakura
JAPAN’S NII WALKS OFF WITH THE X-1 LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE. WAIANAE’S KAMAKA CLAIMS X-1 WELTERWEIGHT TITLE
MAIN EVENT: Suguru Nii def. Kaeo Meyer via unanimous decision, for Lightweight (155 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)
Japan’s Suguru Nii played spoiler in front of a home town audience at X-1 #49 on Saturday night at the Blaisdell Arena. In his 3rd fight of the evening, Nii secured a Kimura arm lock that led to a submission at 3:55 of the very first round. The fight capped off an eight-man Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament and crowned Nii as the new X-1 Lightweight World Champion, a title last held by the UFC’s Max Holloway. Nii started the main event with a quick take down and maintained the top position, but was unable to cause significant damage. Meyer got back to his feet quickly, but was caught with a Kimura arm lock while attempting to put Nii back on the ground. A gracious Nii simply said “My name is Suguru Nii, thank you, thank you.”
CO-MAIN EVENT: Rodney Mondala def. Bill Takeuchi via unanimous decision, for Bantamweight (135 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)
Takeuchi entered as a heavy favorite having defended his belt last September. Mondala spent most of the first round working leg kicks to Takeuchi’s left leg and using his quickness to avoid Takeuchi’s heavy hands. In the second frame, Takeuchi went to his wrestling to score a series of take downs. Mondala survived an accidental mid-round groin strike and used shots from the clench to score. In the final round, Mondala walked down a visibly tired Takeuchi with crisp combinations to get the nod from the judges in a unanimous decision victory.
Zane Kamaka def. Mike Bronzoulis via verbal submission, for World Welterweight (170 lbs.) Title (3×5 min. rounds)
Zane Kamaka came into the cage fired up and dominated the one round match from the top position with punches, elbows and submission attempts. Bronzoulis was unable to continue after suffering a broken arm from blocking a kick, verbally submitting prior to the start of round two. At the close of the contest, Kamaka took the center of the cage with his new X-1 World Title and draped by a handful of other title belts, “I work too hard for this, UFC give me a call” Kamaka said.
Russell Mizuguchi def. Shojin Miki via unanimous decision, for the Flyweight (125 lbs.) State Title (3X5 min. rounds)
Mizuguchi started off with a takedown and spent most of round one with ground control over Miki against the cage. In second round, Miki evened up the scorecard with increased pressure and strikes. Mizuguchi used takedowns and wrestling to control most of the fight. The match ended with Mizuguchi working Miki on the ground to become the X-1 Flyweight State Champion via unanimous decision.
April 7, 2018 at Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii.
X1#49 : World/State Title Champions
X1 #49 Fighter Weigh-ins
Watch all Live Pay-Per-Views on YouTube. X1 48
X1#48 : World/State Title Champions
By Kyle Galdeira
@kylegaldeira –Photos available at www.HawaiiMediaSource.com
Ray “Braddah” Cooper III has been a mainstay in the local mixed martial arts scene, and he hopes to raise his profile to the next level. After Saturday night’s impressive performance, he may be in line to do just that.
Cooper kept his Welterweight (170 lbs.) World Title with a convincing knockout victory over Charles “Felony” Bennett in the main event of the X-1 World Events MMA #48 at the Neal Blaisdell Arena. The fight, which was held before a crowd that nearly filled the arena’s lower bowl, was also broadcast live via pay-per-view.
“Thank you (Bennett) for coming out and challenging me,” Cooper said. “This belt is staying here until I get to the UFC. When I get there, you guys (currently fighting in the UFC) are going down, that’s my belt.”
“I don’t remember what happened,” said Bennett, perhaps only half joking, who normally fights at 145 pounds. “I love you all, Hawai’i.”
CO-MAIN EVENT: Sale Sproat def. Rafael Brewster via KO at 50 seconds into first round, for Middleweight (185 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)
Sproat made quick work of Brewster, using a punch to the left side of his foe’s head to halt the hitman early. After hitting the canvas, Brewster could not fight back, and the fight was stopped just 50 seconds after it started, much to the delight of the local fans who were supporting Sproat, a cowboy and rancher from Moloka‘i.
“Thank you everybody who supported me, you know who you are,” Sproat said.
Russell “The Muscle” Mizuguchi def. Michael “Smash Boy“ Nakagawa via split decision, for State Flyweight (125 lbs.) Title (3×5 min. rounds)
Mizuguchi took Nakagawa to the ground midway through the second round, and delivered a few punches and elbows to his foe’s head as he controlled the action. The remainder of the round was spent on the canvas with very little going on – the bell put a welcomed end to the stalemate.
“I came in as the underdog…Dana White, give me a call!” said Mizuguchi.
Bill Takeuchi def. Justin Hugo via TKO (referee stoppage) at 3:53 in third round, for Bantamweight (135 lbs.) World Title (3X5 min. rounds)
The combatants felt each other out over the first two minutes, and just moments after Takeuchi caused a cut on Hugo’s nose, the fight was halted as Hugo took a low blow via Takeuchi’s whip kick. Once the action resumed, Takeuchi controlled the pace and pinned Hugo against the cage before delivering a series of punches and knees to Hugo’s head, which combined to open a large gash on the opponent’s forehead.
Rudolph Schafforth def. Tipo Lafaele via head-and-arm choke 3:02 into first round, super heavyweight (3X5 min. rounds)
Two large humans squared off in this bout featuring two 260-plus pounders, which excited the crowd as the lumbering fighters traded destructive blows. Two minutes into the opening round, Schafforth connected with a vicious right-handed uppercut that dropped Lafaele. Schafforth then gained control of the local fighter and secured the submission via head-and-arm choke three minutes into the first round.
“I know he’s a tough brawler, so I just tried to keep my chin down,” said Schafforth.
Juan Gonzalez def. Kaeo Meyer via unanimous decision, lightweight (155 lbs.) professional bout (3X5 min. rounds)
In a shocking decision to start the Main Card, Meyer fell via unanimous decision despite controlling the action throughout the fight. Meyer took control early with multiple strikes to the head, then braved a few big counters from Gonzalez. Meyer’s wicked right hook left a large cut under Gonzalez’ right eye as blood streamed down the foe’s face. Gonzalez did not give in, though, and ran the local fighter into the cage as the fighters flopped to the canvas. Meyer countered, though, and gained position to land a handful of overhand punches to end the first round.
Undercard
Davy Malaythong submitted Daylan Cummings in a 170-pound bout just 15 seconds into the final preliminary fight. A corner attendant said Cummings tapped out after suffering a separated shoulder.
X-1 World Events has helped launch the mixed martial arts careers of multiple elite-level fighters including the UFC’s current Featherweight Champion Max Holloway as well as former UFC champion Dan “The Beast” Severn.
Michael Nakagawa vs Russell Mizuguchi
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X1#38 : World/State Title Champions