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The featured bout of the HDNet portion of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning,” which will serve as a lead-in to the pay-per-view (PPV) telecast on January 24, will be a light heavyweight rematch between Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3).

The two first met at a Universal Fighting-Arts Organization show in August of 2002 with Matyushenko earning the win by unanimous decision.

Matyushenko is coming off an impressive run through the International Fight League’s (IFL) 205-pound division over the last couple of years. In fact, he defeated Alex Schoenauer last November to become the first ever IFL light heavyweight champion. He successfully defended the belt five months later with a second round technical knockout over Jamal Patterson.

When the promotion went under earlier this year, Matyushenko left as the only division champion in the two-year history of the organization.

The Russian is also a five-fight UFC veteran, posting a record of (3-2) during his time in the Octagon. He was granted a shot at Tito Ortiz’s 205-pound belt at UFC 33, but came up just shy in the decision loss.

Nogueira has won all three of his fights since a loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 nearly two years ago. He defeated Moise Rimbon by unanimous decision two weeks ago at Sengoku: “Sixth Battle.” Before that he took out Edwin Dewees at Affliction’s first event back in July, and also stopped Todd Gouwenberg back in February at a Hardcore Championship Fighting event.

A heavyweight bout between Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello and Kiril Sidelnikov has also been confirmed for the HDNet telecast. HDNet will air the undercard of Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” live on January 24 before the PPV, which will be headlined by WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko defending his title for the first time against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski.

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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Moise Rimbon - Sengoku 6
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Click Here to Watch the Fight

Sengoku 6 presented by World Victory Road (WVR) took place earlier today from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and featured the conclusion of its lightweight and middleweight grand prix and the return of popular fan favorites Antonio Rogerio Noguiera and Takanori Gomi.

“Little Nog”, the twin brother of current UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, made his return to Japan a successful one after outpointing the very tough Moise Rimbon to take home the unanimous decision win.

This victory, Minotoro’s third straight, should help re-establish his position as one of the world’s top 205-pound fighters. That standing was called into question after the rugged Brazilian was knocked stiff by the recently-fizzled Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou back at PRIDE 33 in 2007.

Headlining the show and coming up short was one of Japan’s most popular fighters, Takanori Gomi. “The Fireball Kid” looked like his old self with dominant position and repeated submission attempts throughout the first round.

Unfortunately a well-placed jab in the second frame folded him up like a Trapper Keeper - though he was able to stay alive after Sergey Golyaev inexplicably failed to follow up for the finish.

A recovering Gomi was tentative in the third but turned up the heat towards the end of the round. It wasn’t enough in the judge’s eyes. Golyaev was not overly aggressive but did look the fresher fighter and took home the split decision when all was said and done.

Former UFC middleweight Joe Doerksen returned to the win column with a gritty TKO win over Izuru Takeuchi in round three of their middleweight grand prix reserve bout.

“El Dirte” was released by the UFC after a technical knockout loss to Jason MacDonald at UFC 83 last April — his third straight defeat under the Zuffa umbrella but proved himself today in an exciting back-and-forth battle.

WVR didn’t waste any time bringing Team Quest product Muhammed Lawal back into action and it’s easy to see why.

“King Mo” obliterated the very talented Chute Boxe fighter Fabio Silva after three rounds of brutal ground and pound. Silva had no answer for the strength and wrestling of Lawal who found the TKO finish early in the third.

Rounding out the card was of course the semifinals and finals of the lightweight and middleweight grand prix.

Satoru Kitaoka looked like he was in for an easy night after submitting Eiji Mitsuoka just over a minute into the first round of the semifinals, but Kazunori Yokota wasn’t going to just hand over the bout, even after going to a decision against Mizuto Hirota.

Yokota went for the tried-and-true rope-a-dope style of fighting and stalling, but Kitaoka saw through him like used Neutrogena. Kitaoka was dominant from the opening bell and used a battery of strikes to secure the decision and the grand prix title.

Much like Kitaoka, Jorge Santiago went home as champion of the middleweight grand prix after barely breaking a sweat in the semifinals with a quick submission win over Siyar Bahadurzada. He had a little tougher time against Kazuhiro Nakamura in the finals but a crushing right from the Brazilian in the third round gave him the gold.

Here are the complete results for Sengoku 6:

Main Card:

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3) defeated Moise Rimbon via unanimous decision (13-8-3)
Muhammad Lawal (2-0) defeated Fabio Silva (11-5) via TKO (strikes - 0:41:R3)
Sergey Golyaev (11-6) defeated Takanori Gomi (29-4) via split decision

Lightweight Grand Prix semifinals:

Kazunori Yokota (8-1-3) defeated Mizuto Hirota (10-3) via unanimous decision
Satoru Kitaoka (22-8-9) defeated Eiji Mitsuoka (14-6-2) via submission (heel hook - 1:16:R1)

Lightweight Grand Prix reserve bout:

Jorge Masvidal (15-3) defeated Seung Hwan Bang (5-3) via unanimous decision

Lightweight Grand Prix finals:

Satoru Kitaoka (23-8-9) defeated Kazunori Yokota (8-2-3) via unanimous decision

Middleweight Grand Prix semifinals:

Kazuhiro Nakamura (13-8) defeated Yuki Sasaki (22-15-1) via unanimous decision
Jorge Santiago (19-7) defeated Siyar Bahadurzada (14-4-1) via submission (heel hook - 1:10:R1)

Middleweight Grand Prix reserve bout:

Joe Doerksen (41-12) defeated Izuru Takeuchi (25-10-6) via TKO (strikes - 0:41:R3)

Middleweight Grand Prix finals:

Jorge Santiago (20-7) defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura (13-9) via TKO (strikes - 0:49:R3)

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World Victory Roads Sengoku 6 features the finale of the lightweight and middleweight grand prix’s.

Sengoku 6 Weigh-In Results

Jorge Santiago (180.2lbs) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (182.5lbs)
Kazuhiro Nakamura (182.6lbs) vs. Yuki Sasaki (182.2lbs)
Mizuto Hirota (154.0lbs) vs. Kazunori Yokota (153.8lbs)
Satoru Kitaoka (154.0lbs) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (153.8lbs)
Joe Doerksen (181.9lbs) vs. Izuru Takeuchi (182.4lbs)
Bang Seung Hwan (153.8lbs) vs. Jorge Masvidal (153.8lbs)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (204.4lbs) vs. Moise Rimbon (204.4lbs)
Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal (204.2lbs) vs. Fabio Silva (204.2lbs)
Sergey Golyaev (153.8 poundslbs) vs. Takanori Gomi (153.8lbs)

Sengoku 6 is set to go down early Saturday morning at 3pm EST.

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According to Sherdog, Pride veteran “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) will likely take on the IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) at Affliction 2 “Day of Reckoning” on October 11th from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sources close to the promotion confirmed the fight has been offered to both parties, though Matyushenko’s management declined to comment on the proposed matchup.

Matyushenko holds an eight fight winning streak which includes holding the IFL light heavyweight belt until the promotions recent demise. His only stoppage comes by way of Andrei Arlovski at UFC 44, which should make for a hypable rematch if both fighters continue wining bouts in Affliction.

Nogueira bother of UFC heavyweight champion “Big Nog” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will try to add to his successful win over UFC veteran Edwin Dewees at “Affliction Banned” on July 19th.

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IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) is in talks to face former PRIDE standout Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” on October 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada according to Sherdog.com.

“The Janitor” will try to continue cleaning out the world’s light heavyweight closet by rematching Nogueira during Affliction’s sophomore effort. The two first squared off back in 2002 at Japan’s Universal Fighting-Arts Organization where Matyushenko handed “Minotoro” his first professional loss.

Matyushenko is the winner of eight straight, including an impressive TKO over Jamal Patterson at IFL’s New Jersey event last April. In fact Vlad hasn’t seen defeat since getting knocked out by fellow Belarusian and Affliction heavyweight Andrei Arlovski back at UFC 44.

“Little Nog”, the twin brother of current UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, was victorious in his Affliction debut on July 19, easily stopping Edwin “Babyface” DeWees in the first round.

A win over the heavy-handed Matyushenko could go a long way in re-establishing Noguiera as one of the world’s top 205 lb fighters. That position was called into question when the rugged Brazilian was knocked stiff by Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at PRIDE 33 in 2007.

Affliction “Day of Reckoning” features the main event of Josh “The Babyface Assassin” Barnett (23-5) vs. Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (13-5). More fights are expected to be announced in the coming weeks including a rumored middleweight showdown between Matt “The Law’ Lindland (21-5) and Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort (17-8).

Stay tuned.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Edwin Dewees - Affliction Banned Video
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