Deep 102 is set for the Korakuen Hall on July 4th and there will be three titles on the line. Featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku and middleweight champion Tatsuya Mizuno will both be defending their titles while an interim lightweight champion will be crowned.
Ushiku (18-8-1) was beaten by Daisuke Nakamura (30-19-1) in a non title match at Deep 100 in February. An immediate rematch will take place and this time the champion’s title will be on the line.
That loss snapped a six fight winning streak for Ushiku who won the title with a majority decision win over Satoshi Yamasu at Deep 97. Nakamura has been more focused on submission grappling than MMA in recent years but is coming off back to back victories at Deep 97 and Deep 100.
Mizuno (22-13-1) and João Batista Yoshimura (6-4) are in an identical situation. The Japanese champion was stopped by the Brazilian in a non title fight at Deep 98 so an immediate rematch has been ordered with the belt on the line.
That defeat snapped a seven fight winning streak for Mizuno who won the vacant title by submitting Taisuke Okuno at Deep 82 in 2018 and has yet to defend it. Yoshimura is a BJJ black belt who has finished his last four opponents.
Koji Takeda is unlikely to be defending his lightweight belt anytime soon as he is booked to compete at Rizin 29 later this month. An interim champion will be crowned when Ryota Oki (4-0) faces Juri Ohara (28-18-3) on July 4th.
Oki only made his pro debut in 2009 but has won four out of four for Deep. Ohara has challenged unsuccessfully for the promotion’s lightweight title on two occasions and will be looking to make it third time lucky.
The card will also feature a bantamweight bout between Shunsuke Miyabi (1-0) and Ryuki (0-1).
Deep 102, Tokyo July 4th
Juntaro Ushiku (c) vs. Daisuke Nakamura (For featherweight title)
Tatsuya Mizuno vs. João Batista Yoshimura (For middleweight title)
Juri Ohara vs. Ryota Oki (For interim lightweight title)
Shunsuke Miyabi vs. Ryuki (Bantamweight)
