DEEP megaton (or, as everyone other than the Japanese would call him, heavyweight) champion Yusuke Kawaguchi (5-1) will defend the title he won in a grand prix tournament in 2008 from bleached blond challenger Seigo Mizuguchi (1-2) at DEEP 44 Impact in Tokyo 10 October, DEEP announced Friday. Welterweights Hidehiko Hasegawa (15-12-3) and Ryuki Ueyama (9-11-4) have also been matched-up for the card. Kawaguchi won a two-round unanimous decision over Cirio Tejera (0-1) at M-1 Challenge 18 in Hilversum 16 August while Mizuguchi comes into his first title challenge off a scarf hold submission of Tokuzo (0-1) at DEEP in Toyama 28 June. ...

Bulgarian wrestler Jordan Radev (13-3), whose UFC career consisted of getting knocked out in 33 seconds by "Massacre" Andrew McFedries (7-3) and losing a UD to "Boogieman" Dean Lister (11-5), will fight Japanese middleweight Yuya Shirai (12-6) as a member of Team World at M-1 Challenge in Korea 29 August. Welterweight Jake Ellenberger (18-4) will return after a successful Team USA debut in July to face Korean Doo Won Seo (1-2) on the card. Lightweight Daisuke Nakamura (16-9) returns to Team Japan versus Berlgian "Moreno" Wim Deputter (18-2) while welterweight Hidehiko Hasegawa (13-10-6) debuts versus American Top Team's Norman Paraisy (4-0). Russian Roman Zentsov (17-12) will headline the event in a rematch versus Korean Sang Soo Lee (8-4). ...