Kikuno to Defend Lightweight Strap Against Hirota at Deep 55

Two of the top lightweights currently operating in Japan appear set to collide Aug. 26 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Katsunori Kikuno, lightweight champion of Deep, will reportedly defend his belt against former Sengoku titleholder Mizuto Hirota at Deep “55 Impact.”

While only Hirota’s participation at the event has been made official, news of the matchup was tweeted Wednesday by Satoru Kitaoka, the man from whom Hirota took the Sengoku lightweight title in 2009.

The bout marks the card’s third championship affair, as featherweight ace Koichiro Matsumoto will defend against returning Yoshida Dojo product Tatsunao Nagakura, while heavyweight titlist Kazuhisa Tazawa will clash with Georgian judoka Levan Razmadze. For more on the card read more