ISLE FILE
Japan's Suda stops Inoue in 27 seconds
Advertiser Staff
Japan's Masanori Suda retained his world Shooto title when he stopped Hawai'i's Egan Inoue 27 seconds into their bout last night in SuperBrawl XXIX at the Blaisdell Arena.
Inoue, a former world champion in racquetball and Jiu-Jitsu and a three-time SuperBrawl champion, came out of retirement to pursue the world Shooto title.
But Suda used a series of blows to Inoue's head, and the referee stopped the bout.
Shooto fighters of Japan are considered the top mixed martial artists in the world.
TENNIS
• 3 Hawai'i teams in semifinals: The Brigham Young-Hawaii men's and women's tennis teams and the Hawai'i Pacific men's team advanced to today's semifinals of the NCAA Division II Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
In yesterday's quarterfinals, the second-ranked BYUH men defeated ninth-ranked Northwood (Mich.), 5-1, the top-ranked BYUH women eliminated 15th-ranked Abilene Christian (Texas), 5-1, and the 11th-ranked HPU men topped third-ranked Drury (Mo.), 5-2.
In today's semifinals, the BYUH men (28-1) will play fifth-ranked Barry, Fla., (22-3), the BYUH women (35-0) will play second-ranked Lynn, Fla., (20-0) and the HPU men (18-3) will play top-ranked West Florida (27-0).
The BYUH men and women are the defending NCAA Division II champions. The championship match is scheduled to be played tomorrow, but will be moved to Monday if BYUH advances to accommodate the school's request not to play on the Sabbath.
SURFING
• Three from Hawai'i advance: Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Kalani Robb and Conan Hayes won their first round heats in the Billabong Pro Teahupoo yesterday in 6- to 8-foot waves at Teahupoo, Tahiti.
Irons, the defending world champion, received a near-perfect score of 9.5 (out of 10) in his first round victory.
"I love this place and just being in Tahiti is amazing," said Irons, who won the Billabong Pro Teahupoo last year. "I waited a while and ended up getting a 9.5 on a bigger set. It had three really hollow sections on it and I made it out clean."
Robb won his heat with a last-minute wave that received a score of 7.13.
Hayes was one of the top performers in the first round with a total score of 17.4 (out of 20). He received a 9.73 score for a long barrel ride on one of the biggest waves of the day.
With first-round victories, Irons, Robb and Hayes advanced directly to the third round.
Shane Dorian of Kailua, Kona, placed second in his heat yesterday and will have to compete in the second round.
The women's division did not run heats yesterday.
