World Victory Road Returns with Sengoku 7

All right, folks, it's time for the other major Japanese promotion to get back in action. World Victory Road has been off since January but they're coming back strong next Friday with Sengoku 7. They will feature their FW grand prix as well as the return of "King Mo" Lawal.

Again, I won't be able to watch these fights and I am not as familiar with the Japanese promotional fighters as the US-based ones, so this preview won't be as in-depth as usual. I will try my best, though. Let's break down the fights:

Hatsu Hioki vs. Chris Manuel

Hioki is 17-3-2, making his WVR debut, with 12 wins by stoppage. He is mostly a submission fighter. Manuel is 6-0-2, also making his WVR debut, with all six wins by stoppage. He is also mostly a submission fighter.

This should be a solid grappling match up but I think Hioki's experience is too much for Manuel. I'll pick Hioki to end Manuel's winning streak by submission in the second round. Hioki is definitely my favorite to win this tournament.

Hideki Kadakowi vs. Nam Phan

Kadakowi is 11-7-2, making his WVR debut, with 6 wins by submission. He is a submission fighter. Phan is 14-4, also making his WVR debut, with 10 wins by stoppage. He is mostly a striker.

This should be a good clash of styles. Normally I would pick the grappler but I think Phan is just the better all around fighter. I'll pick him to win by TKO in the first round in a mild upset.

LC Davis vs. Michihiro Omigawa

Davis is 12-1, making his WVR debut, with 11 wins by stoppage. He is a strong grappler with solid striking skills. Omigawa is 4-7, also making his WVR debut, with two wins by KO. He is a judoka with solid hands.

I think Davis has the better hands and can use his wrestling to stay standing. I'll pick him to win by KO in the first round.

Matt Jaggers vs. Marlon Sandro

Jaggers is 9-4, making his WVR debut, with seven wins by stoppage. He is a striker. Sandro is 12-0, also making his WVR debut, with five wins by stoppage. He has solid striking and submissions.

I think Sandro is the better grappler and will take this fight to the mat away from Jagger's strength. I'll pick Sandro to stay undefeated with a first round submission.

Kim Jong Man vs. Masanori Kanehara

Unfortunately I couldn't find any info on Man. However, Kanehara is 11-5-5, making his WVR debut, with 10 wins by stoppage. He is a submission fighter.

Man is an unknown quantity but I'll still pick this fight. I'll pick Kanehara to win by submission in the first round.

Shintaro Ishiwatari vs. Jung Chan Sung

Ishiwatari is 6-1-3, making his WVR debut, with four wins by TKO. He is a striker. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything about Sung either. These Korean's have no paper trail!

I'll also still pick this fight. I'll pick Ishiwatari to win by TKO in the first round.

Ronnie Mann vs. Tetsuya Yamada

Mann is 16-1-1, making his WVR debut, with 12 wins by stoppage. He is a submission fighter. Yamada is 3-0, also making his WVR debut, with all three wins by stoppage. He is a striker with solid submissions.

I think Mann's experience will be the deciding factor here. I'll pick him to give Yamada his first loss by submission in the first round.

Seiya Kawahara vs. Nick Denis

Kawahara is 6-1, making his WVR debut, with five wins by stoppage. He is a striker. Denis is 6-0, also making his WVR debut, with all six wins by stoppage. He is also a striker.

This should be a very even match up. I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Denis to stay undefeated by submission in the second round. How's that for an unusual prediction!?

Muhammed Lawal vs. Ryo Kawamura

Lawal is 3-0 overall and in WVR with all three wins by KO. Kawamura is 9-3-2, 1-1 in WVR, with five wins by TKO.

This should be a great stand up battle. However, I see King Mo's star keep rising with another win by KO in the second round.

James Thompson vs. Jim York

Thompson is 14-9, making his WVR debut, with 13 wins by stoppage. He is a striker. York is 9-2, 0-1 in WVR, with all nine wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with solid boxing.

Thompson, he of the infamous Kimbo Slice ear busting, is a joke to me but he sells tickets in Japan. I understand why WVR is showcasing him but I think York is a better fighter. I'll pick him to extend Thompson's losing streak to four with a win by KO in the first round.

Alright, folks, that's all for now. Stay tuned for my Sengoku 7 review next weekend along with my fighter rankings for April, as this is the last major show in March. After that, we have to wait until April 1 for UFN 18. Until then,

Soccer kicks and head stomps...