Pancrase 303 is set for Shinkiba Studio Coast on February 17th and a bantamweight King of Pancrase will be crowned. Brazilian veteran Rafael Silva, who holds the interim title, will face up and coming Japanese prospect Kenta Takizawa.
Silva (29-6) made his debut in 2005 and has won four Pancrase fights out of five. He won the interim version of the belt earlier this year after beating Masakatsu Ueda by decision for the second time in the space of three years.
The Brazilian also had a stint with Bellator and Takizawa (9-4) is nine years his junior. The Japanese bantamweight has beaten more experienced opponents in the past though; he holds victories over Toshinori Tsunemura, Toshiaki Kitada and Kosuke Terashima and is coming off a two fight winning streak.
Shintaro Ishiwatari has been bantamweight King of Pancrase since 2011. However he has not fought for the promotion in over a year and was last seen in action during the Rizin bantamweight Grand Prix, where he reached the final but was stopped by Kyoji Horiguchi.
On Sunday Hiroyuki Tetsuka beat Akihiro Murayama at Pancrase 302.
Pancrase 303, Shinkiba, February 17th
Kenta Takizawa vs Rafael Silva (For Pancrase Bantamweight Title)
