‘Minowaman’ vs. Oli Thompson Headlines All-Heavyweight Inoki Genome Fight 3 in Tokyo

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Hundred-fight veteran Ikuhisa Minowa will square off against onetime UFC competitor Oli Thompson in the main event of Inoki Genome Fight 3.

Inoki Genome Federation this week revealed the final lineup and bout order for the Japanese organization’s latest MMA-centric event. The all-heavyweight show takes place April 11 at Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo hall in Tokyo, bolstered by an undercard of four pro-wrestling matches.

The event will see the launch of the 2015 IGF World Grand Prix heavyweight tournament, of which Minowa-Thompson is a part. Both headliners will attempt to break out of a losing streak: “Minowaman” has been punched out twice in the past 10 months, while Thompson has dropped three in a row, most recently suffering a knockout loss to Brett McDermott in December.

Rounding out the tournament’s opening round are three additional bouts featuring a range of international competitors: Bulgaria’s Emil Zahariev squares off against American “Huggy Bear” Chris Barnett, well-traveled French vet Antony Rea takes on Team Nogueira’s Fernando Rodrigues Jr., and Dutchman Dion Staring tangles with Yosef Ali Mohammad of Sweden. All bouts are scheduled for two five-minute rounds.

Olympic judo gold medalist and ex-IGF titleholder Satoshi Ishii will open the card in a non-tournament bout against American Nick Rossborough. Rounding out the six-fight MMA portion of the bill is a tournament reserve match between former sumo Shinichi Suzukawa and South Korean striker Ik Tae Jin.