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Pancrase has announced nine additional fights for PANCRASE 369, strengthening the lineup for its December 20 event at Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tokyo, Japan.
The latest additions include former two-division champion ISAO facing Ryo Goto, former featherweight champion Suguru Nii returning to take on Rui Imura, and a bantamweight clash between Mitsuhiro Takashiro and Reomi Yamaguchi.
The event will also feature three championship bouts, including a featherweight title unification contest, a lightweight title defence and a flyweight championship fight. With 12 matchups announced so far, PANCRASE 369 is shaping up to be a significant event for Japanese MMA.
ISAO Faces Ryo Goto in Lightweight Clash
One of the most notable additions sees former Pancrase lightweight and featherweight champion ISAO take on Ryo Goto in a three-round lightweight contest.
ISAO enters the matchup looking to end a difficult run. He returned to lightweight in December 2025 but suffered a submission defeat against Yusuke Kasuya. He subsequently made his RIZIN debut in June 2026, losing to Yusuke Yachi.
The former two-division champion will now attempt to return to winning ways against Goto, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt known for combining submission skills with aggressive striking.
Goto impressed during his first Pancrase appearance in June 2025, dropping Kazuma Maruyama with a left straight before securing an arm-lock submission. He subsequently recorded victories in Shooto before suffering a second-round technical knockout defeat against Sarmad Jahanara at ONE Championship in June 2026.
The matchup presents a compelling contrast between ISAO’s championship experience and Goto’s aggressive grappling-based approach. A victory could provide either fighter with a valuable opportunity to rebuild momentum.
Suguru Nii Returns Against Rui Imura
Another significant addition sees former Pancrase featherweight champion Suguru Nii return to the promotion after approximately three years and three months away.
Nii will face Rui Imura in a three-round featherweight contest, bringing together two fighters with dangerous submission games.
Nii previously captured the Pancrase featherweight championship in September 2023. Since then, he has suffered four consecutive defeats in RIZIN against strong opposition, including Kazumasa Majima, Koji Takeda, Ilkhom Nozimov and Shoma Akimoto.
The return to Pancrase gives Nii an opportunity to reset his career in familiar surroundings.
Imura, meanwhile, is moving up from bantamweight after previously competing in a championship bout against Ryo Tajima in December 2025. He lost that contest by first-round technical knockout and will now attempt to establish himself in a new division.
Both fighters have demonstrated finishing ability on the ground, making this one of the most intriguing grappling matchups on the newly announced card.
Takashiro and Yamaguchi Finally Set to Meet
Mitsuhiro Takashiro will face Reomi Yamaguchi in a bantamweight contest that was originally scheduled for March before Takashiro withdrew because of injury.
Takashiro is a highly ranked contender who returned to winning ways in July, defeating Yuji Sato by unanimous decision. The victory ended a frustrating period that included a technical-decision defeat against Rui Imura and the cancellation of his scheduled meeting with Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi arrives with a strong record of his own. He recorded five consecutive decision victories before losing to Narutaki Miyagi in a five-round interim bantamweight title fight in May.
The matchup now offers both fighters a chance to re-establish themselves in the division’s title picture. Takashiro will look to build on his July victory, while Yamaguchi aims to rebound from his championship setback.
Other Fights Announced for PANCRASE 369
The promotion also confirmed six additional contests involving ranked fighters and emerging Japanese prospects.
Shunma Sasaki vs. Tomoki Otsuka
Sasaki will face Otsuka in a strawweight contest. Sasaki previously put together four consecutive victories before losing a next-title-contender bout against Denchi Funada in July.
Otsuka is dropping back to strawweight after competing at flyweight. He has suffered consecutive defeats, including a second-round technical knockout loss against former champion Sarutobi in March, and will attempt to revive his championship ambitions.
Joseph Camacho vs. Ayumu Suga
Flyweight contender Joseph Camacho meets Ayumu Suga in a matchup between two fighters looking to move closer to the title picture.
Camacho recently produced an emphatic first-round knockout against Taiga Masuda in September. Suga, meanwhile, returned to form in July by submitting Hiroki Uematsu with a twister in the third round. The winner could strengthen his position among the division’s leading contenders.
Maya Yamaki vs. Taiga Tanimura
Bantamweights Maya Yamaki and Taiga Tanimura will both seek a return to winning ways.
Yamaki began his professional career with three consecutive knockout victories but has since suffered three straight defeats. Tanimura, meanwhile, recorded a first-round ninja-choke submission against Ayumu Suga in March before losing to Genta Shindo in June. Both fighters have shown finishing ability, making this an important contest for their respective careers.
Seiji Shirai vs. Ayumu Yamamoto
Seiji Shirai will attempt to extend his winning streak against Ayumu Yamamoto in a bantamweight matchup.
Shirai won the 2025 Neo Blood Tournament and has since recorded three consecutive victories, including a ninja-choke submission against Rikuya Ishida in August.
Yamamoto brings considerable grappling experience of his own. After recording three consecutive victories in DEEP, he secured a kimura submission during his Pancrase debut in 2025. He subsequently suffered a submission defeat against Lucas Ghanin in ONE Championship. The fight gives Shirai an opportunity to continue his rise, while Yamamoto looks to rebuild momentum.
Takuma Okada vs. Shinsuke Kamei
Okada will face Kamei in a featherweight contest between two fighters seeking to return to form.
Okada recorded consecutive victories in 2025 before suffering a decision defeat against unbeaten prospect Hiroto Shimizu in March 2026. Kamei, meanwhile, returned from an approximately two-and-a-half-year absence in June but suffered a late technical knockout defeat against Yusuke Hatakeyama. Both fighters will be looking to regain their footing in a competitive featherweight division.
Shona Seki vs. Kaia Fukuzato
The final newly announced matchup sees Shona Seki face Kaia Fukuzato in another featherweight contest.
Seki enters with an unbeaten professional record of four victories and has demonstrated a combination of striking and grappling ability. Standing at 185 centimetres, he is an unusually tall featherweight prospect who will aim to continue his development.
Fukuzato has won five of his six professional contests. He bounced back from a defeat in the 2025 Neo Blood Tournament final and subsequently scored a second-round knockout against Yusuke Hatakeyama in September.
Three Championship Fights Already Headline PANCRASE 369
The nine additional matchups join three previously announced championship contests, bringing the announced lineup to 12 fights.
Featherweight Title Unification: Yuito Yanagawa vs. Otabek Rajabov
Featherweight champion Yuito Yanagawa will face interim champion Otabek Rajabov to determine the division’s undisputed titleholder.
Yanagawa captured the championship with a knockout victory over Karibek Alzhikul Uulu in December 2025. He subsequently suffered a first-round knockout defeat against George Mangos in the ROAD TO UFC tournament in May 2026 and will look to rebound.
Rajabov secured the interim title with a submission victory over Naoyuki Kinoshita in June. He also won gold in MMA at the 2026 Asian Games in September, where the sport made its debut as an official medal event. Rajabov enters the contest unbeaten, making this one of the most significant matchups on the card.
Lightweight Championship: Rafael Barbosa vs. Daichi Kamiya
Lightweight champion Rafael Barbosa will make his first title defence against top-ranked challenger Daichi Kamiya. Barbosa won the championship in March 2026 by stopping former champion YANBO Tatsuya Saiga in the second round. He has also demonstrated considerable submission ability, recording victories over Yusuke Kasuya and Yuto Suzuki.
Kamiya earned his title shot after defeating Kasuya in a contender’s bout in June. He has since recorded three consecutive victories following his first professional defeat in ROAD TO UFC against Sang Wook Kim. Barbosa’s striking and submission skills will be tested against Kamiya’s judo background, powerful throws and scrambling ability.
Flyweight Championship: Ryusei Tokita vs. Sarutobi
Flyweight champion Ryusei Tokita will defend his title for the first time against former champion Sarutobi.
Tokita remains unbeaten with five professional victories and captured the vacant championship in May by defeating Chudai Kishida via split decision.
Sarutobi earned his title opportunity by defeating Genta Shindo in a contender’s bout in September. He previously held the Pancrase flyweight championship and will attempt to reclaim the belt.
Tokita’s wrestling and physical strength will face a stern test against Sarutobi’s experience and determination to become champion again.
Championship bouts
- Featherweight title unification: Yuito Yanagawa vs. Otabek Rajabov
- Lightweight championship: Rafael Barbosa vs. Daichi Kamiya
- Flyweight championship: Ryusei Tokita vs. Sarutobi
Nine additional bouts
- Lightweight: ISAO vs. Ryo Goto
- Featherweight: Rui Imura vs. Suguru Nii
- Strawweight: Shunma Sasaki vs. Tomoki Otsuka
- Bantamweight: Mitsuhiro Takashiro vs. Reomi Yamaguchi
- Flyweight: Joseph Camacho vs. Ayumu Suga
- Bantamweight: Maya Yamaki vs. Taiga Tanimura
- Bantamweight: Seiji Shirai vs. Ayumu Yamamoto
- Featherweight: Takuma Okada vs. Shinsuke Kamei
- Featherweight: Shona Seki vs. Kaia Fukuzato
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