Marlon Sandro making return to Pancrase
Nova Uniao featherweight Marlon Sandro is making a refurn to Japan at Pancrase 266 on April 26 at Tokyo’s Differ Ariake arena vs. former champion Isao Kobayashi.
Nova Uniao featherweight Marlon Sandro is making a refurn to Japan at Pancrase 266 on April 26 at Tokyo’s Differ Ariake arena vs. former champion Isao Kobayashi, Sandro has signed a mult-fight deal with Pancrase, old the sport’s oldest and most respected organizations.
Sandro, 37, became the featherweight King of Pancrase in 2008 before transferring to Sengoku and capturing the featherweight title of that organization as well. Following the end of Sengoku, The Gladiator joined Bellator, where he compiled an 8-3 record and was a two-time tournament runner-up. Sandro last saw action in May 2014, when he notched a unanimous decision over Chris Horodecki at Bellator 119.
Kobayashi, 26, has over the past five years established himself as one of Japan’s top prospects. The Sakaguchi Dojo fighter relinquished the mantle of lightweight King of Pancrase in 2014 to make a run in the featherweight division and subsequently defeated former Shooto ace Takeshi Inoue. Most recently, Kobayashi had a 12-fight unbeaten streak snapped in a decision loss to Kazunori Yokota on New Year’s Eve.