4-Man Tourney Cleared at WEC 17 Weigh-ins
By Loretta Hunt

The event’s longevity has become quite an asset for fighters looking to get their feet wet, clock in some solid victories, or even make a comeback. In particular, a 4-man light heavyweight tournament could yield a clear prospect for advancement in the circuit, as one fighter’s hand will be raised two times once the night is through. Understanding this opportunity, all four athletes involved came in under required numbers today, along with alternate Tait Fletcher, who will be on standby should one of the competitors not be able to continue on to the finals.

Elsewhere on the card, super heavyweights Jimmy Ambriz and Ricco Rodriguez hit the scales at 303 and 288 pounds; and heavyweights Corey Salter and Lavar Johnson were recorded at 259 and 242 pounds.

Light heavyweight and Lion’s Den instructor Vernon "Tiger" White made weight at 203.5 pounds, yet opponent Alex Stiebling had a bit of a struggle. 12 pounds over the first time he stepped on the scales, Stiebling made it within four pounds an hour later, but as of the weigh-ins "official" closing had not checked in again. However, he is expected to make weight to compete Friday.

UK’S THOMPSON TO FACE ROMANIA’S LUNGU AT
PRIDE FIGHTING’S FULLY LOADED

Representing the United Kingdom, James Thompson makes his third appearance in PRIDE. His debut came on October 31, 2004 at HIGH OCTANE against Russian Aleksander Emelianenko. Thompson suffered a loss by KO, but the fight was one of the most memorable of the year and one thing was clear … Thompson comes to fight! "The Colossus" recovered from the loss at BUSHIDO 8 by knocking out American Henry "Sentoryu" Miller in the first round. However, despite his 6’4", 265 pound frame, Thompson will be in for a challenge as he takes on Romanian Alexandru Lungu. A behemoth of a man, Lungu stands 6’1" and weighs 368 pounds. He’s a 30-time national judo champion, 2-time national wrestling champion, and defending national sambo champion (all in his native Romania). It will be titan versus titan as Thompson squares off with Lungu!

Previously announced matches include the return of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as he takes on Japanese fighter Hirotaka Yokoi … a match up of judo against judo as Japan’s Makoto Takimoto (Olympic gold medallist) takes on Korea’s Yoon Dong Sik (under mixed martial arts rules) … the long-awaited rematch between Croatian Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and American Josh "The Babyface Assassin" Barnett … Cro Cop’s teammate, Fabricio Werdum, against rising heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov … Murilo "Ninja" Rua of the Chute Boxe Academy makes his return to the ring taking on Murad Chunkaev of the Chechen Republic … American Sumo Henry "Sentoryu" Miller battles Brazilian giant "Zulu" … and it’s legend versus legend as Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba goes head to head with MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock.

[Super heavyweight(221lbs. and over)]
the 1st Super heavyweight K.O.P. Tsuyoshi Kosaka(Team Alliance)
#1 Mike Kyle *IN!
#2 Ron Waterman(U.S.A./Team Impact) *DOWN from #1
#3 Keigo Takamori(Pancrase MEGATON) *DOWN from #2
#4 Anthony “Tatsuji” Netzler(Team BOON!) *DOWN from #3
#5 Alex Roberts(U.S.A./Kujuken Kaikan) *DOWN from #4

[Heavyweight(199lbs.~under 221lbs.)]
the 2nd Heavyweight K.O.P. VACANT
#1 Ryuta Noji(Pancrase MEGATON)
#2 Lee Segak(Wajutsu Keishukai RJW)
#3 Tsuyoshi Ozawa(Zendokai)

[Light heavyweight(181lbs.~under 199lbs.)]
the 3rd Light heavyweight K.O.P. Yuki Kondo(PANCRASEism)
#1 Sanae Kikuta(GRABAKA)
#2 Akihiro Gono(GRABAKA)
#3 Nilson de Castro(Brazil/Chute Boxe Academy)
#4 David Terrell(U.S.A./Cesar Gracie Academy)
#5 Kestutis Arbocius(Lithuania/Latvia Shidokan)
#6 Daijiro Matsui(Takada Dojo)
#7 Daisuke Watanabe(PANCRASEism)
#8 Gustavo Ximu(Brazil/Gracie Barra Combat Team)
#9 Fabio Leopoldo(Brazil/Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy)
#10 Yuki Sasaki(GRABAKA)

[Middleweight(165.7lbs.~ under 181lbs.)]
the 5th Middleweight K.O.P. Nathan Marquardt(Pancrase U.S.A./H.A.M.A.)
#1 Izuru Takeuchi(SK Absolute)
#2 Kazuo Misaki(GRABAKA)
#3 Yushin Okami(Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo Hombu)
#4 Eiji Ishikawa(GRABAKA)
#5 Hiromitsu Miura(Pancrase TOKIN)
#6 Yuichi Nakanishi(freelance)
#7 Daisuke Hanazawa 13(MMA Dojo Cobrakai)
#8 Osami Shibuya(freelance)
#9 Kiuma Kunioku(freelance)
#10 Yuji Hisamatsu(Wajutsu Keishukai TIGER PLACE)

[Welterweight(152.5lbs.~ under 165.7lbs.)]
the Interim Welterweight K.O.P. Katsuya Inoue(Wajutsu Keishukai RJW)
#1 Satoru Kitaoka(PANCRASEism)
#2 Hidehiko Hasegawa(SK Absolute)
#3 Koji Oishi(PANCRASEism)
#4 Heath Sims(U.S.A./Team Quest)
#5 Hidetaka Monma(Wajutsu Keishukai A-3)
#6 Takafumi Ito(PANCRASEism)
#7 Yuji Hoshino(Wajutsu Keishukai GODS)
#8 Takuya Wada(SK Absolute)
#9 Kenji Arai(PANCRASE)
#10 Tatsunori Tanaka(Wajutsu Keishukai Hyogo Dojo)

[Lightweight(141.4lbs.~ under 152.5lbs.)] TBD