Pancrase 368 has undergone a notable shift at the top of its card as former welterweight champion Masayuki Kikuiri prepares for his long-awaited return to the iconic Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. Originally scheduled to face Cole Henning, Kikuiri will now square off against seasoned veteran Shinichi Taira on short notice. The high-stakes welterweight clash highlights an action-packed event slated for Sunday, November 8, at the renowned New Pier Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The alteration to the main card came after Henning was forced to withdraw from the bout at the explicit request of his training camp. Rather than searching for an overseas replacement or postponing Kikuiri’s promotional homecoming, Pancrase matchmakers secured Taira, a durable veteran and former ZST lightweight champion who eagerly stepped up to take the assignment on compressed preparation time. Alongside the welterweight shakeup, promotion officials also confirmed a change to the flyweight lineup, inserting third-ranked Genta Shindo against promotional newcomer Davi Chueng to maintain the depth and competitive integrity of the card.
For Kikuiri, Pancrase 368 marks his first appearance under the Pancrase banner in over four years. His last promotional outing came in October 2021, when he delivered a definitive performance to defeat Akihiro Murayama in an interim welterweight championship bout. Following that success, the representative of the NEVER QUIT camp ventured onto the major international stage, testing his skills across high-profile stints in Bellator and the Professional Fighters League. During his time competing abroad, Kikuiri compiled an impressive three-victory run, notably stopping all three of those opponents by knockout to prove his heavy-handed credentials on a global platform.
Carrying a professional mixed martial arts record of 11 wins, four losses, and one draw, Kikuiri now steps back into the Pancrase cage to face an opponent whose career trajectory has followed a vastly different path. Taira, fighting out of Tsunashima Jiu-Jitsu and ZST, brings a wealth of experience into the contest with a staggering professional ledger standing at 27 wins, 22 losses, and 11 draws. As a former ZST lightweight champion, Taira is no stranger to high-pressure environments and championship stakes, though taking a short-notice welterweight fight against a returning former titleholder certainly presents a formidable challenge.
Taira enters this matchup looking to bounce back from a decision loss to Chikaya Suzuki in May, a setback that snapped a three-fight winning streak. Despite the quick turnaround and the jump in competition level, the veteran grappling specialist accepted the opportunity without hesitation, setting the stage for a compelling clash of styles against the hard-hitting Kikuiri.
The adjustments to the Pancrase 368 fight card extend down to the flyweight division, where third-ranked Genta Shindo receives an immediate opportunity to rebound. Shindo, holding an 8-6 professional record, enjoyed a strong summer campaign that included a submission victory over Taika Tanimura via a slick ninja choke in June. However, that momentum was temporarily halted in September when he dropped a hard-fought decision in a title eliminator.
Representing Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu, Shindo will now stand across the cage from Davi Chueng, an undefeated prospect fighting out of the prestigious Brazilian Top Team. Chueng has looked sharp in the early stages of his professional career, securing two victories without a defeat. He most recently finished his opponent with a devastating body-shot knockout, showcasing the kind of striking pressure that could trouble more experienced fighters. While Shindo holds a distinct advantage in professional experience, Chueng arrives in Tokyo with the chance to make a massive splash by defeating a ranked contender in his promotional debut.
The rest of the Pancrase 368 main card is brimming with compelling narratives, featuring former champions, top contenders, and intriguing international prospects. In the middleweight division, another former Pancrase champion looks to return to the win column as Genpei Hayashi faces Sczar Kawahara. Hayashi, who holds the number-three ranking at middleweight with a record of 14 wins, 14 losses, and one draw, is looking to shake off the disappointment of a September 6 championship loss to Qosim Sardorov. Standing opposite him will be Kawahara, a KRAZY BEE representative based in the United States. Kawahara carries a 2-4 professional record into the bout, having gone 1-1 under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner.
The middleweight division is further showcased by the presence of the division’s top-ranked contender, Haruki Tezuka, who squares off against Yuji Arai. Tezuka made waves in his professional debut in July, relying on a formidable judo background and relentless takedowns to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kazuki Okamura, the winner of this year’s Neo Blood Tournament at middleweight. Arai, who claimed the Neo Blood Tournament middleweight crown back in 2020, returns to Pancrase looking to improve upon his 7-11 career mark.
Action in the bantamweight division features a long-awaited rivalry finally coming to fruition. Seventh-ranked Kohei Maeda meets 11th-ranked Daiki Gojima in a matchup that was originally supposed to take place in November 2025, only to be delayed due to an injury withdrawal by Maeda. Maeda enters the cage with an 11-9-1 record, while Gojima looks to impose his will holding a 12-11-2 ledger.
Additionally, sixth-ranked bantamweight Ryo Matsui seeks to recover from the first professional defeat of his career as he takes on Luiz Herculano. Matsui, standing at 4-1, makes his first appearance since February. He will have his hands full against Herculano, a dangerous finisher who brings a 7-1 record into his promotional debut, having secured six of his seven victories via stoppage.
The event’s supporting lineup is rounded out by five preliminary bouts, which highlight the grassroots of Japanese mixed martial arts by featuring professional debuts for Ryo Ushikubo, Taiju Hayashida, and Daichi Endo.
Doors for Pancrase 368 are officially scheduled to open at 1:15 p.m. Japan Standard Time, with the first bout set to get underway at 1:30 p.m. JST. Fans looking to tune in from within Japan can catch the action exclusively on U-NEXT, while international viewers can watch the entire card live via UFC Fight Pass. Separate broadcast start times for the preliminary and main cards have not yet been finalized by the promotion.
Pancrase 368 Updated Fight Card
All bouts for the upcoming event are scheduled for three five-minute rounds. The fight order follows the latest official announcements from the promotion, though a numbered running order and a designated main event have not been officially declared.
Main Card
Welterweight: Masayuki Kikuiri vs. Shinichi Taira
Flyweight: Genta Shindo vs. Davi Chueng
Middleweight: Genpei Hayashi vs. Sczar Kawahara
Middleweight: Haruki Tezuka vs. Yuji Arai
Bantamweight: Kohei Maeda vs. Daiki Gojima
Bantamweight: Ryo Matsui vs. Luiz Herculano
Preliminary Card
Flyweight: Jyoichiro Hiraga vs. Ryo Ushikubo
Featherweight: Shota Taguchi vs. Kohei Yamada
Featherweight: Guilherme Nakagawa vs. Taiju Hayashida
Bantamweight: Kazuki Ito vs. Taku Matsuoka
Bantamweight: Yohito Kimura vs. Daichi Endo
