Satoshi Ishii’s hectic 2019 schedule saw him return to action at the Nagoya Congress Center on Saturday night. The former Olympic gold medalist in Judo was looking to add the Heat heavyweight title to his rapidly expanding collection of silverware.
Reigning champion Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira was taken down by Ishii almost immediately in the opening round at Heat 44. The Japanese heavyweight moved from side control to north-south position with ease but couldn’t quite lock on the Kimura he was looking for.
Oliveira was defending submission attempts for virtually the entire round, and the second stanza got off to a bad start as well for the Brazilian when Ishii caught a kick and took him down.
This time the Japanese fighter moved into mount and from there he wasted no time in submitting de Oliveira with a Kimura. He moves up to 20-8-1 while the Brazilian drops to 12-5.
Next up for Ishii is a heavyweight title challenge at KSW 47 on March 23rd. It will be his third fight in the space of five weeks and they have all had belts on the line.
Heat also has a new lightweight champion. Tom Santos (11-6) dropped Rae Yoon Ok (11-3) multiple times but couldn’t put the Korean away and it nearly cost him with the Brazilian eventually running out as winner by way of split decision.
Heat 44, Nagoya, March 2nd
Satoshi Ishii def. Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira by Submission (Armlock) in Round 2
Jerome Le Banner def. Jairo Kusunoki by leg strikes in Round 1
Da Un Jung def. Sasa Milinkovic by TKO (strikes) in Round 3
Miki Motono def. Mariya Suzuki by Decision (Unanimous)
Tom Santos def. Rae Yoon Ok by Decision (Split)
Takeshi Kasugai def. Shunichi Shimizu by Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round 1
Katsuki Ishida def. Vitor Toffanelli by Decision (Unanimous)
Masaki def. Henry Cejas by Decision (Unanimous)
Himalayan Cheetah def. Jae Hyun Jo by TKO (Knees and Punches) in Round 1
