Hero's 5
Encyclopedia
Hero's 5: 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix Opening Round was a mixed martial arts
event held by the Hero's
promotion on May 3, 2006 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium
in Tokyo
, Japan
.
The opening round of the 2006 Lightweight
Grand Prix was held at the event. Originally, Gilbert Melendez
was scheduled to compete in the Grand Prix but was forced out with a leg injury and replaced by Rani Yahya
. Also, Yoshihisa Yamamoto
was set to face Wakashoyo
at the event but was ordered by doctors not to compete due to a strained back. Kazuhiro Hamanaka
took his place instead.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by the Hero's
HERO'S
Hero's was a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion operated by Fighting and Entertainment Group, the parent entity behind kickboxing organization K-1. Grown from and branched off of K-1's earlier experiments in MMA, including the K-1 Romanex event and various MMA fights on its regular K-1...
promotion on May 3, 2006 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Yoyogi National Gymnasium
is an arena in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan which is famous for its suspension roof design.It was designed by Kenzo Tange and built between 1961 and 1964 to house swimming and diving events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. A separate annex was used for the basketball competition at those same games...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The opening round of the 2006 Lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
Grand Prix was held at the event. Originally, Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
was scheduled to compete in the Grand Prix but was forced out with a leg injury and replaced by Rani Yahya
Rani Yahya
Rani Ahmad Yahya is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Yahya won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007...
. Also, Yoshihisa Yamamoto
Yoshihisa Yamamoto
Yoshihisa Yamamoto is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He has competed for Rings, WEF, PRIDE Fighting Championships, and HERO'S. He has fought notable opponents such as Mirko Filipović, Rickson Gracie, Guy Mezger, Bob Sapp and Semmy Schilt...
was set to face Wakashoyo
Wakashoyo
Wakashoyo is a Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and former sumo wrestler.-Career:Although born in Chiba, he grew up in Nakano, Tokyo. He joined sumo in 1981, wrestling out of Futagoyama stable. He first entered the top makuuchi division in 1991 and made his sanyaku debut in March 1993 from...
at the event but was ordered by doctors not to compete due to a strained back. Kazuhiro Hamanaka
Kazuhiro Hamanaka
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He fought for the Tokyo Sabres in the International Fight League.-Career:Hamanaka began his mixed martial arts career in 2003 with a victory over Antonio Schembri at PRIDE 26. After losing to Ryan Gracie in PRIDE Bushido 1, he made stints in other organizations...
took his place instead.
Results
- Openweight bout:
Kazuhiro HamanakaKazuhiro Hamanakais a Japanese mixed martial artist. He fought for the Tokyo Sabres in the International Fight League.-Career:Hamanaka began his mixed martial arts career in 2003 with a victory over Antonio Schembri at PRIDE 26. After losing to Ryan Gracie in PRIDE Bushido 1, he made stints in other organizations...
vs. WakashoyoWakashoyoWakashoyo is a Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and former sumo wrestler.-Career:Although born in Chiba, he grew up in Nakano, Tokyo. He joined sumo in 1981, wrestling out of Futagoyama stable. He first entered the top makuuchi division in 1991 and made his sanyaku debut in March 1993 from...
- Hamanaka defeated Wakashoyo via submission (Kimura) 1:22 of round 1.
- Heavyweight bout:
Tom EriksonTom EriksonTom Erikson is an American wrestling coach and former mixed martial artist. Erikson is an assistant wrestling coach at Purdue University, where he has been coaching since 1997. He has also had fights in K-1 under K-1 kickboxing rules...
vs.
Antonio SilvaAntonio Silva (fighter)Antonio Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He initially fought in the super heavyweight division, but currently competes in the heavyweight weight class. He is the first and last EliteXC heavyweight champion...
- Heavyweight bout:
- Silva defeated Erikson via TKO (punches) 2:49 of round 1.
- Heavyweight bout: AkebonoAkebono Tarois a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...
vs. Don FryeDon FryeDonald Frye is a retired American mixed martial artist, actor, and professional wrestler. Frye rose to fame fighting in early Ultimate Fighting Championship events, winning the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournaments...
- Heavyweight bout:
- Frye defeated Akebono via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:50 of round 2.
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
Ivan MenjivarIvan MenjivarIvan Menjivar is a Salvadoran-Canadian professional mixed martial artist currently fighting in the bantamweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Mixed martial arts career:...
vs. Taiyo Nakahara
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
- Menjivar defeated Nakahara via unanimous decision.
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout: Ryuki UeyamaRyuki UeyamaRyuki Ueyama is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. He has fought for organisations such as; Fighting Network RINGS, DEEP, Pancrase, Hero's and Pride FC.-Fighting Network RINGS :...
vs. Rani YahyaRani YahyaRani Ahmad Yahya is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Yahya won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007...
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
- Yahya defeated Ueyama via majority decision.
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Hidetaka MonmaHidetaka MonmaHidetaka Monma , is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He started MMA at age of 25, when he joined Wajyutsu Keisyukai A-3 and made his professional debut on September 21, 2001 against Hiroshiji Ito at RINGS Battle Genesis Vol.8...
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
- Cavalcante defeated Monma via TKO (punches) at 2:08 of round 1.
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
Kultar GillKultar GillKultar "Black Mamba" Gill is a professional Indian-Canadian welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer and lightweight mixed martial artist, fighting for Team Mamba in Abbotsford, British Columbia....
vs. Hideo TokoroHideo TokoroHideo Tokoro is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in Dream in the bantamweight division. He competed in many mixed martial arts fights in other various promotions such as TFC, ZST, Shooto, Rings and K-1 Hero's.-DREAM:...
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
- Gill defeated Tokoro via KO (knee) at 0:43 of round 1.
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
Ole LaursenOle LaursenOle 'Iron Fist' Laursen is a Danish welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer and lightweight mixed martial artist, fighting out of Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand.-Biography:...
vs. Caol UnoCaol Unois a Japanese mixed martial artist, and former Shooto Welterweight Champion. Specifically, Uno is known for his low single leg takedown and rear naked choke. He was born in Kanagawa, Japan...
- Lightweight Grand Prix bout:
- Uno defeated Laursen via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:36 of round 2.
- Openweight bout: Yoshihiro AkiyamaYoshihiro Akiyama, born Choo Sung-hoon , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. He is a fourth-generation Japanese of Korean descent and acquired Japanese nationality in 2001....
vs. Katsuhiko NagataKatsuhiko Nagatais a Japanese olympic wrestler and mixed martial artist, who won the silver medal in 63-69 kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics...
- Openweight bout:
- Akiyama defeated Nagata via KO (spinning back kick) at 2:25 of round 2.
- Lightweight bout: Kazuyuki MiyataKazuyuki MiyataKazuyuki Miyata is a Japanese freestyle wrestler and mixed martial artist who currently fights for the MMA promotion Dream in the featherweight division.-Freestyle Wrestling:...
vs. Norifumi "KID" YamamotoNorifumi Yamamotois a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona...
- Lightweight bout:
- Yamamoto defeated Miyata via KO (flying knee) at 0:04 of round 1.