Shooto Brazil 21 Set for Feb. 19; U.S. Show Planned for 2011

Hacran Dias (top) | Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

The South American branch of Japan’s Shooto organization will start its most ambitious year to date on Feb. 19 with Shooto Brazil 21 at Bennett College Theater in Rio de Janeiro.

Shooto South America President Andre Pederneiras on Monday confirmed the show’s seven-fight card to Sherdog.com. News of the event was first reported by Brazilian website Tatame.com.

Matchups of note include Nova Uniao lightweight prospect Hacran Dias taking on Ricardo “Pitbull” Pires, UFC veteran Antonio “Samuray” Mendes going up against Cleber Tavares and Shooto Brazil mainstay Giovani Diniz facing Anderson Nunes.

Proceeds from Shooto Brazil 21 will go toward helping those affected by the deadly floods and landslides which hit the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro in mid-January.

“I’m doing this show to help the victims of the rains in Petropolis, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo,” Pederneiras told Sherdog.com on Monday. “I’ve always done Shooto to help the poor people. For me, it’s more important to help these people than to make money.”

Shooto Brazil 22 will take place in April, in the national capital of Brasilia, and will be followed by at least four more Brazilian shows this year. Pederneiras plans to stage up to 10 events in 2011, including possible trips to the United States and Argentina.

“The expectation is to bring Shooto to the United States this year and do at least one event there, since now I have a license to do shows all over America,” Pederneiras said in an interview with Tatame. “Since I have many students living there, I’m talking to some of them to see which city is best for us to hold the first Shooto event.”

Hacran Dias vs. Ricardo Pires
Antonio Mendes vs. Cleber Tavares
Giovani Diniz vs. Anderson Nunes
Aquiles Bestene Campos vs. Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima
Sandro Cardoso vs. Vitor Pereira
Eri Franco vs. Mauricio Reis
Diogo Osama vs. Alan Quirino

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Report: Hardy-Johnson Planned for March UFC Event

Dan Hardy (center): Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson have reportedly agreed to meet at a March UFC event.

Exactly which event will host the welterweight showdown is unknown at this time; however, a report from MMAFighting.com suggests the bout could be included on the Spike TV-broadcast UFC Fight Night 24 show, expected to take place on March 26 in Seattle.

Hardy defeated four straight opponents upon entering the Zuffa LLC ranks in 2008, including the likes of Mike Swick and Akihiro Gono, but his career met turbulence in 2010. After losing a lopsided five-round title bout to champion Georges St. Pierre in March, the 28-year-old Englishman was knocked out in the first round of his match with Carlos Condit at UFC 120 in October. Despite this, “The Outlaw” remains ranked among the world’s top 170-pounders.

Johnson will see his first action since November 2009, when he was choked out by Josh Koscheck in a short-notice match at UFC 106. He was forced to withdraw from a scheduled March fight with John Howard after suffering a knee injury in training which required surgery. Considered one of the UFC’s brightest welterweight prospects, “Rumble” is 5-3 inside the Octagon, with all five wins coming by way of knockout.

While little is known about UFC Fight Night 24 -- including the proposed venue -- it is likely to be headlined by a light heavyweight contest between former champion Tito Ortiz and ex-Pride Fighting Championships star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

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