Expect fireworks tonight as World Victory Road’s Sengoku 4 kicks off from the Saitama Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi makes his much anticipated return after a nearly 18 month hiatus to face Seung Hwan Bang, the Deep lightweight champion with 5 back to back victories.

Favorites Ryan "The Lion" Schultz, Rodrigo Damm, and Clay French will do battle in round one of the Lightweight GP for an eventual shot at Gomi for the vacant Sengoku lightweight crown. Other highlighted bouts feature Frank Trigg, Pawel Nastula, and Alistair Overeem’s brother, Valentijn Overeem.

RedSweat.com will be bringing you all of the action live including quick results and up-to-the-minute play-by-play commentary for the entire fight card starting at 3am ET early Sunday morning.

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Also feel free to stick around after the fights for a discussion. Leave as many comments as you like and tell us what you thought about the fights.

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Important news, announcements and interesting moments during Sengoku 4

• 15 minute intermission underway. During the intermission, Xavier Ribeiro is announced as a Sengoku fighter. He will make his debut at Sengoku 5.

Sengoku 4 Quick Results:

• Kazuo Takahashi vs Valentijn Overeem (Overeem wins via KO (Flying Knee) at 2:42 in 1st)
• Peter Graham vs Moise Rimbon (Rimbon wins via Rear Naked Choke at 0:42 in the 2nd)
• Pawel Nastula vs Dong Yi Yang (Yang wins via TKO (Ref Stoppage) at 2:15 in the 2nd round)
• Mizuto Hirota vs Ryan Schultz (Mizuto Hirota wins via KO (Punch) at 4:25 in the 2nd) GP
• Kazunori Yokota vs Bojan Kosednar (Yokota wins via Unanimous Decision after 3) GP
• Eiji Mitsuoka vs Rodrigo Damm (Mitsuoka wins via Rear Naked Choke at 3:13 in the 1st) GP
• Satoru Kitaoka vs Clay French (Kitaoka wins via Achilles Lock at 0:31 in the 1st round) GP
• Makoto Takimoto vs Frank Trigg (Trigg wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds)
• Takanori Gomi vs Seung Hwan Bang (Gomi wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds)

Kazuo Takahashi vs Valentijn Overeem (Heavyweight Bout)

• Round 1: Takahashi scores a nice takedown to start out the round. Overeem attempts a guillotine but Takahashi escapes and ends up in Overeem’s half guard. Valentijn gets to his feet and starts to work some stand up. He’s getting the better of Takahashi with strikes. Overeem lands a huge flying knee and knocks out Takahashi. Fight over.
• Round 2:
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Overeem wins via KO (Flying Knee) at 2:42 in the 1st round.

Peter Graham vs Moise Rimbon (Heavyweight Bout)

• Round 1: Graham strikes first and Moise attempts a takedown. Graham stuffs the takedown and they continue the stand up. Peter comes forward with punches but Rimbon avoids nicely backing up. Rimbon misses with a takedown but eventually gets Graham to the mat. He mounts Peter easily but time runs out before he can take advantage of the position.
• Round 2: Rimbon comes out and lands a big overhand punch that drops Graham. Rimbon tee’s off on the ground with strikes. Peter gives up his back and Moise sinks in the choke. Graham can’t escape and is forced to tap.
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Moise Rimbon wins via Rear Naked Choke at 0:42 in the 2nd round.

Pawel Nastula vs Dong Yi Yang (Heavyweight Bout)

• Round 1: Nastula shoots in for a takedown but Yang avoids it. Both fighters are being very cautious.Yang comes in and Nastula goes for another takedown. Yang catches Nastula in the family jewels and the action is paused. The first kick that lands is a low blow. The action resumes and Yang goes right to the groin again, this time with a knee. Yang gets a yellow card. Once again the action resumes. Yang swings away with wild slapping punches. but nothing lands. Nastula ties him up and they clinch before the round comes to an end.
• Round 2: After a slow start Yang comes in with punches and gets Nastula to the mat. Nastula goes for a leg lock but eats some punches in the process. They continue to trade and Yang gets the takedown. Yang lands some small punches from the guard. Nastula sinks in an armbar but Yang pulls his arm out. Nastula kneels down in pain possibly from earlier groin shots and the ref waves it off. Yang goes crazy and celebrates his victory. Strange ending to the fight. Nastula throws up his arms wondering what just happened but he clearly was out of the fight.
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Dong Yi Yang wins via TKO (Ref Stoppage) at 2:15 in the 2nd round.

Mizuto Hirota vs Ryan Schultz (Lightweight GP Round 1 Bout)

• Round 1: Hirota comes out aggressive but Shultz isn’t backing down. Hirota is coming forward but Ryan is more in control. Hirota fires a low kick but Schultz returns the favor with twice the power. Hirota lands a nice punch but Schultz recovers. Schultz is starting to hurt Hirota with his powerful kicks. It ends up on the ground with Ryan in Hirota’s guard. Hirota fires an up kick and gets to his feet. Schultz in trouble, takes Hirota back to the mat and the round comes to an end.
• Round 2: Schultz comes right out with a takedown but Hirota easily gets back to his feet. Schultz has some great kicks but wants the fight on the ground. They trade punches with neither landing anything significant. Schultz continues to go for a takedown but Hirota is defending well. They are letting the punches go. Schultz shoots in for a takedown but ends up outside of the ring. They are back to their feet and Hirota lands a big right hand that drops Ryan "The Lion" and the fight is over. KO for Hirota who advances in the tournament. A big upset over Ryan Schultz who was the favorite.
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Mizuto Hirota wins via KO (Punch) at 4:25 in the 2nd round.

Kazunori Yokota vs Bojan Kosednar (Lightweight GP Round 1 Bout)

• Round 1: Bojan comes out with a takedown and Yokota returns with a plethora of small punches. Yokota follows his barrage with a takedown but Bojan gets back to his feet. It’s back to the striking game. Bojan goes for another takedown but in the process Yokota takes his back. His isn’t able to take advantage and they are back to their feet. Both fighters scramble for a takedown but Yokota comes up with it. He ends up in Bojan’s half guard but is unable to get anything going as Bojan controls his head. Time runs out and the round ends.
• Round 2: Round two is underway and Yokota is looking good with his stand up. Bojan is coming forward and being aggressive. He lands a good right hand and shoots for a takedown. Bojan lands a low blow inside the clinch and the action is temporarily paused. The fight resumes and Bojan secures a takedown. He almost takes Yokota’s back but Yokota spins and lands in Bojan’s guard. He is unable to take advantage in the guard. He works a little ground and pound but doesn’t connect with anything solid. The ref stands them up. Bojan is given a yellow card for inactivity. Yokota scores another takedown and takes Bojan’s back. Bojan spins out, ends up in mount but the round comes to a close.
• Round 3: Yokota comes out with the takedown. Bojan sinks in a deep guillotine and works the choke. The ref breaks them up and gives Yokota a yellow card which probably saved him. The action resumes and Yokota lands some good punches. Yokota catches Bojan with a nasty low blow that leaves Bojan in some serious pain. This could be it. It appears that Bojan is going to continue, still in pain. Yokota receives his second yellow card. Bojan gets a takedown and moves into mount. Yokota takes Bojan’s back but Bojan’s stands right up. Yokota just misses with a knee and looks like the fresher fighter now. Could have something to do with that giant groin strike. Yokota scores another takedown and Bojan is looking fatigued. The round finishes out on the ground.
• Final Result: Kazunori Yokota wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds.

Eiji Mitsuoka vs Rodrigo Damm (Lightweight GP Round 1 Bout)

• Round 1: The fighters measure each other up. Damm comes with a low kick and Eiji fires back with punches. They start to exchange and Eiji misses with a takedown. Damm gets Eiji to the mat and Eiji looks for a triangle. He lands a couple of hammer fists to the head of Damm. Eiji has Damm’s head caught in a scissor between his legs but Damm escapes and comes down with a kick. The ref stands Eiji up and they start to trade. Damm lands some nice shots but gets caught with a solid punch that drops him to the mat. Eiji pounces and sinks in a rear naked choke. Damm is forced to tap. An impressive performance from Eiji who begins his celebration.
• Round 2:
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Eiji Mitsuoka wins via Rear Naked Choke at 3:13 in the 1st round.

Satoru Kitaoka vs Clay French (Lightweight GP Round 1 Bout)

• Round 1: Kitaoka has an evil stare in the stare down. Kitaoka shoots in for a beautiful shot. French defends well but Kitaoka has a leg and won’t let go. He quickly drops back for a leg lock and immediately taps French with an achilles lock. Damn that was impressive. French immediately storms out of the arena disappointed with his debut. Kitaoka steam rolled through the Matt Hughes protege in 31 seconds flat. Kitaoka does some crowd pleasing kung fu stances.
• Round 2:
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Satoru Kitaoka wins via Achilles Lock at 0:31 in the 1st round.

Makoto Takimoto vs Frank Trigg (Middleweight Bout)

• Round 1: "Twinkle Toes" returns. Trigg lands a kick but eats a left hand for his troubles. They tie up and Takimoto gets the takedown. Trigg starts to work his rubber guard. Trigg misses with some up kicks and gets back to his feet. He fires off some good punches and they tie up. Trigg follows with a solid punch and a good kick. They are going at it. Takimoto drags Trigg down into his guard not liking the stand up from Trigg. Makoto is keeping Trigg tied up. Trigg breaks free and start to reign down some blows. He passes to side control and lands a knee. Trigg moves into full mount but Takimoto escapes and goes for a leg. Trigg unloads with body punches but Takimoto scoots out of the ring to avoid damage. They start to bang it out and Trigg gets the takedown. Trigg stands up and comes down with a nice shot. Takimoto goes for the leg again but Frank denies. Excellent round from Trigg.
• Round 2: Trigg comes right in but Takimoto fires right back. They start to slug it out and Takimoto comes with a high kick. Great exchange. The end up on the mat with Trigg in side control. Trigg makes his way to mount but Makoto regains half guard. Frank stands up and comes down with some hay makers, landing back in full guard. He lands a big body shot. He follows with a few nice punches to the head. He passes to side control. Trigg is dominating. He unloads in the corner but Takimoto gets to his feet. They exchange and its back to the mat where Makoto sinks in a kimura. He has it but he going out of the ropes. Trigg starts to wail away at the body. Frank gets out and unloads with some big shots. He lands a couple of knees to the body and the round ends.
• Round 3: They trade kicks. Makoto comes in but Trigg gets the takedown. He immediately mounts. Takimoto regains half guard and eventually full guard. Trigg stands up and passes to half. Once again Makoto regains full guard. Trigg spins and almost takes his back but Makoto goes for a leg. He is close but eats a few punches and lets go. Frank isn’t doing much in guard now. The ref stands them up. They start to trade and Makoto looks fresher. Trigg is getting exhausted now. Takimoto lands some big shots that stun Trigg. Frank gets a takedown to recover and isn’t doing much with it. He lands a couple of short elbows. A few more weak shots and the round ends. Takimoto made a comeback but Trigg should have the decision.
• Final Result: Frank Trigg wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds.

Takanori Gomi vs Seung Hwan Bang (Lightweight Main Event)

• Round 1: The fighters start to measure each other up being very cautious. Gomi strikes first with a low kick. Followed by another. Bang comes in with a combo. Gomi comes back with a leg kick. Gomi lands another low kick. He follows with a left. Both guys are still very tentative. Gomi lands a left. He starts to get busy a little and lands a good body punch. Gomi with another leg kick. Gomi lands a stiff right and they start to get a little more busy with strikes. Gomi eats a right before the bell but taunts Bang saying it was nothing.
• Round 2: They get busy with punches right away. They trade jabs. Gomi is sticking and jabbing. Gomi lands a leg kick. Bang misses with a high kick and they tie up for a second. They continue to trade but neither fighter is committing to anything significant. This isn’t the same Gomi we’re use to seeing. Gomi lands another low kick but he doesn’t have much on his kicks. It goes to the mat and Gomi starts to unload finally. He easily mounts Bang, takes his back but Bang escapes instantly. Gomi fires off a couple of shots. He almost connects with a flying knee to the body in the corner before the round closes out.
• Round 3: Both guys are still a little tentative to engage. Gomi lands a left jab followed by a low kick. Bang fires away with a nice combo that lands. Neither one of the guys is trying to finish the fight. They have a nice exchange. Gomi swings and misses. They both swing and miss. Bang is starting to look tired. Gomi lands a left followed by some shots inside. Bang, now exhausted lands a nice punch but Gomi is of course getting the better of the stand up. He lands a low kick. Bang comes in and misses with a combo. Gomi comes back with a nice front body kick. Gomi is finally starting to tee off a little now that the rounds almost over. A few more exchanges and the round ends. Not very impressive from Gomi but enough to take the decision.
• Final Result: Takanori Gomi wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds.

(Fireball background courtesy of Digital Expressionism)