Strikeforce
Satoshi Ishii out of U.S. MMA debut at Strikeforce Challengers 15, replaced by undefeated Lorenz Larkin
Mar 28, 2011 - 9:15:21 AM Satoshi Ishii out of U.S. MMA debut at Strikeforce Challengers 15, replaced by undefeated Lorenz Larkin

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Satoshi Ishii, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Judoka, will be unable to make his U.S. MMA debut as scheduled this week at Strikeforce Challengers 15.

Due to the recent events in Japan beginning with this month's earthquake, Ishii was unable to acquire a visa allowing him to leave his home country for the fight. The organization announced Ishii's removal from Friday's card on Monday, as well as his replacement in 8-0 light heavyweight Lorenz "The Monsoon" Larkin.

Larkin will now meet Scott Lighty on Friday's card, which comes to Showtime live from the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif.

"Lorenz is a talented, undefeated fighter whose aggression and power make him a threat in the light heavyweight division," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said in today's release. "He's in for a tough test against Scott Lighty, who has trained with some of the sport’s best like Chuck Liddell. This is the biggest fight of his young career."

Commented Larkin, “This is definitely a step up for me, but I'm excited and looking forward to the challenge. Lighty's a good fighter with a lot of experience. But I've trained hard, I'm in good shape and I'm confident."

Friday's card is headlined by a lightweight bout between Justin Wilcox and Rodrigo Damm, and tickets are still available for the event, starting at $20.