Road Leads to Yoshida-Barnett in March

Written by Sherdog.com

Sunday, 03 February 2008

World Victory Road has confirmed that Japanese star Hidehiko Yoshida will meet Josh Barnett in the main event of the promotion's March 5 debut card at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 1 in Tokyo, Japan. It was previously expected that the Barcelona Games judo gold medalist would meet star grappler Roger Gracie in the marquee fight for the Sengoku card. After aggressively pursuing the free agent Barnett, WVR reportedly changed plans for their main event last week. A source has confirmed to Sherdog.com that Gracie will be on hand at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 1 for the event, where WVR will announce his participation for its second event, slated for May. The source further confirmed that WVR hoped to build toward a Gracie-Yoshida fight in the fall. Yoshida, 38, has not competed since New Year's Eve of 2006, where he was stopped in brutal fashion by English heavyweight James Thompson. Barnett also last competed in MMA on NYE 2006, having dropped a unanimous decision to now-UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in their rematch.

 

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