Lots of surprises at Saitama Super Arena, for the Pride Bushido GP, which ended hours ago in Japan. Some of the favorite’s to take the Grand Prix title, such as American Phil Baroni, and Brazilians Murilo Bustamante and Murilo Ninja were defeated and are now eliminated from the competition unless they come in at a later time as an injury substitution. Highlights of this edition included Japanese Ryo Chonan, Akihiro Gono and Kazuo Misaki, who all did their homework and now will come back to the second round on August 26. In the super-fights, Japanese fighters charged again, with Mitsuhiro Ishida upsetting Marcus Aurélio, Tatsuya Kawajiri submitting Charles "Crazy Horse" Bennett and Hayato Sakurai KO’ing Olaf Alfonso in the first round. Check out the fight recaps below:

Jason Black defeated Ou Won Jin by KO (R1);

The first match of the Pride Bushido GP ended with a vicious KO. Jason Black started on the offensive in the early goings and almost submitted Won Jin with an arm-lock. Jin defended well, but was not able to avoid the knee sequence applied by the American, which knocked him out, obliging the corner to throw in the towel at 6:25 of the first stanza.

- GP: Amar Suloev over Murilo Bustamante 3-0 Unanimous Decision Rd 2

The runner up of last years Pride Welterweight GP, and BTT leader Murilo Bustamante is now eliminated from the competition in what has to be somewhat of an upset. In the first round, Bustamante was doing a great job, taking control of the fight and using his bigger size to push the action against Suloev with jabs. However, Bustamante, a BJJ specialist - was not able to take the fight to the ground, due to a the good takedown defense of Suloev. In the second round, Bustamante got knocked down, which sealed his loss by unanimous judges decision.

- GP: Paulo Filho over Gregory Bouchelaghem by 3-0 UD Rd 2

The other fighter from Brazilian Top Team, Paulão Filho has done a great job at Pride Bushido GP and this time was no different as the Judo and Jiu-Jitsu black belt didn’t have too much trouble defeating French fighter Gregory Bouchelaghem. Pressing the action early, Filho fired a front kick, took Bouchelaghem down and immediately passed his guard. Then, from the side mount, Filho reached the mount but the crafty Frenchman escaped and the fight restarted on the feet. Filho would not be deterred however, as he applied a new take down, passed the guard, mounted and from there, punished his opponent with some blows and also attempted few submissions. Bouchelaghem showed a steady defense and neutralized Paulão’s attacks forcing the referee to restart the action once again on the feet. In the second round Filho kept his superiority and won by unanimous judges decision.

- GP: Ryo Chonan over Joey Villasenor by split decision 2-1 Rd 2

Japanese Ryo Chonan has wins over Anderson Silva and Roan Jucão, and now can add Joey Villasenor to that list and has to be considered a danger to take the Pride Bushido GP at this point. Moments ago, he won  again taking out the underrated Greg Jackson fighter Joey Villasenor. A newcomer to the Japanese organization, Villasenor put Chonan down and even tried a few stomps, but it was the Japanese fighter who impressed the judges taking control of the ring and showing an aggressive game to squeak out the split decision after two rounds.

- GP: Gegard Mousasi over Makoto Takimoto by doctor stoppage  5:36 of Rd 1

Makoto Takimoto put Gegard Mousasi down and attempted an arm-lock early, but his offense ended there. Mousasi escaped and caught Takimoto’s back and ruled the first round punishing his face. Takimoto suffered damage to his face and eye and the Doctor did not allow Takimoto to return to battle for the second round.

Ishida Mitsuhiro over Marcus Aurelio Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2

After putting Takanori Gomi to sleep, Brazilian Marcus Aurelio was invited to take on Ishida Mistushiro in a super-fight at the stacked Pride Bushido GP. The BJJ black belt from American Top Team started strong, surprising Mitsuhiro Ishida with a knock down and a guillotine choke attempt, but it was well defended by Mitsuhiro Ishida. The Japanese fighter reacted and imposed his game from then on out. He reached the mount and even though Aurelio defended himself, he dished out punishment in the second round from the top. The round ended with Ishida firing punches from the guard and impressed the referees enough to give him the unanimous decision victory.

Tatsuya Kawajiri over Charles Bennett by knee bar 2:30 of Rd 1

The round started with Bennett sitting on his corner in typical “Crazy Horse” style. Tatsuya Kawajiri called him to the center of the ring, put him down with a single-leg, and from the guard, punished the American fighter until he passed his guard. Kawajiri tried to catch Crazy Horse’s arm for the submission, but the American fighter defended and tried to reach Japanese’s back instead. It was the beginning of the end as Kawajiri worked a foot-lock and then transitioned to the knee-bar, which obliged Charles Bennett to tap out. The American fighter Bennett didn’t even wait for the ref to raise the hand of the victor and bolted from the ring like a “Crazy Horse” after he lost.

Hayato Sakurai over Olaf Alfonso by KO at 1’04" of Rd 1

Japanese Hayato Sakurai has rejuvenated his career at Pride Bushido, and continued his impressive streak imposing one of the fastest KOs of the night upon American sparkplug Olaf Alfonso. After taking control of the fight, Sakurai threw a beautiful cross, which hit Alfonso in the chin, sealing the KO in the first round.

- GP: Akihiro Gono over Hector Lombard Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2

Hector Lombard started the bout pressing the action against Japanese favorite Akihiro Gono, with a sequence of punches, and the taking him down and continuing the punishment on the ground. T experienced Gono knew how to manage the bad situation and resisted, balancing out the match with offense of his own before taking control of the rest of the combat, impressing the referee’s, who appointed him as the winner by judges decision.

- GP: Denis Kang over Murilo Ninja via KO at :15 seconds Rd1

The semi main event of the event lasted less then half of a minute. Confident he would win, Chute Boxe fighter Murilo Ninja was upset by Canadian Denis Kang by vicious KO. It started on the feet, with a straight punch which took Ninja to the ground. From the guard of the Brazilian, Kang threw another three punches, passed his guard and applied the last four punches, which put the Brazilian to sleep in the ring. "I will be the champion!" warned Kang at the microphone, after the show,

- GP: Kazuo Misaki over Phil Baroni Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2

Another upset took place in the last bout of Pride Bushido GP! One of the favorites to the title, American Phil Baroni was defeated by Japanese Kazuo Misaki. The first round was quite balanced, with both fighters studying each other in the early goings. It was Misaki who attacked more and stung with good knees and low kicks, winning round 1. In the second round, Misaki put Baroni down, passed his guard, reached the side mount and attempted a Kimura. Baroni defended and to add insult to injury, was punished by the referee with an yellow card, which took ten percent of his purse along with a point away, sealing the victory for Misaki who won by unanimous judges decision.

Advancing to the next round of the Bushido Tournament are:

Amar Suloev
Paolo Filho
Ryo Chonan
Gegard Mousasi
Akihiro Gono
Denis Kang
Kazuo Misaki
Jason Black

Complete Results

Jason Black over Ou Won Jin Corner threw in Towel at 6:25 Rd 1

Amar Suloev over Murilo Bustamante 3-0 Unanimous Decision Rd 2

Paulo Filho over Gregory Bouchelaghem by 3-0 UD Rd 2

Ryo Chonan over Joey Villasenor by split decision 2-1 Rd 2

Gegard Mousasi over Makoto Takimoto by doctor stoppage  5:36 of Rd 1

Ishida Mitsuhiro over Marcus Aurelio Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2

Tatsuya Kawajiri over Charles Bennett by knee bar 2:30 of Rd 1

Hayato Sakurai over Olaf Alfonso by KO at 1’04" of Rd 1

Akihiro Gono over Hector Lombard Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2

Denis Kang over Murilo Ninja via KO at :15 seconds Rd1

Kazuo Misaki over Phil Baroni Unanimous Decision 3-0 Rd 2