It was announced at a press conference today in Japan that Fedor Emelianenko will officially face Hong Man Choi in a MMA match at the Yarennoka New Years Eve event in Sataima, Japan. Emelianenko last fought in April at a Bodog Fight event in his home country of Russia, where he defeated top 10 middleweight Matt Lindland.
Choi is coming into the fight off a K-1 World Grand Prix quarterfinal loss to Jerome Le Banner. Choi was defeated via unanimous decision.
This announcement doesn't come as much of a surprise, as this match has been rumored for about a month or more.
Another fight that was officially announced for the card was 2006 PRIDE welterweight grand prix winner Kazuo Misaki will go up against 2-time K-1 HERO'S lightheavyweight grand prix winner Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Akiyama comes into the fight off of an impressive KO victory over highly regarded middleweight Denis Kang. He has another tough test on his hands in this one, as Misaki has never been KO'd.
Misaki hasn't fought since PRIDE 33 in February, where he lost to Frank Trigg by decision. If he can shake the ring rust and get a win here it will definitely solidify a spot for him in the top 10 middleweights in the world.
The finalized card should be coming soon.
Yarennoka! supported by M-1 Global
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
December 31, 2007
-Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi
-Kazuo Misaki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
-Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias "JZ" Calvancante
-Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa
-Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
-Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Azeredo
