Heavyweight Satoshi Ishii (23–11–1) is set to return to action next month. In a press release distributed Monday, Elite MMA Championship announced that Ishii, a Japanese-born judoka who trains under Mirko Cro-Cop and recently obtained Croatian citizenship, will appear at EMC 5. There, he’ll take on BAMMA/Bellator MMA vet Stuart Austin (14-6).
MMA Junkie had previously reported that Ishii would take part in the event. EMC 5 will take place in Dusseldorf, Germany. The promotion is led by brothers Ivan & Tomi Dijakovic, who own the UFD Gym and work with fighters like Roberto Soldic, Antun Racic, Thiago Silva, and others.
Bellator MMA, the PFL, and RIZIN are just some of the stops Satoshi Ishii has made along the way in a career that began back in 2009. Ishii has fought the likes of Cro-Cop (who he now trains with), Fedor Emelianenko, and Rampage Jackson, and has wins against Tim Sylvia, Phil De Fries, and Jeff Monson.
Ishii isn’t the only notable name to adorn the EMC 5 card. Erko Jun (3-1), a KSW star with over a million followers on social media, will also compete. Jun last fought in November, suffering his first loss against strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski.
At EMC 5, Jun will take on Damian Olszewski (2-3).
Also appearing at EMC 5, Germany’s Konrad Dyrschka (10-1) will take on Italy’s Walter Pugliesi (7-2), who previously competed in Bellator.
The promotion has teased that more UFC, Bellator, and PFL veterans will be added to the card shortly.
