Butoku Report
Episode One
What’s that? You think that North American coverage of Japanese Mixed Martial Arts is lacking too? You say you don’t watch Japanese Mixed Martial Arts because it is too hard to keep up with all the fighters? Well as of today that is about to change! Welcome to the first ever edition of the Butoku Report. Every week I will bring you latest news, results, translated interviews and anything else of interest that is happening in the crazycrazy world of Japanese Mixed Martial Arts!
Yoshihiro Akiyama to UFC
The first piece of noteworthy news to discuss would be the UFC signing of K-1 and DREAM standout Yoshihiro Akiyama. At 12-1, Akiyama was certainly on his way to becoming one of the most popular stars the country had seen in a while. With wins over top contenders Denis Kang and Melvin Manhoef, Akiyama would have likely been the next contender for Gerard Mousasi’s Middleweight Championship. This is obviously a major blow to the DREAM organization and Japanese MMA as a whole as one of the few rising Japanese stars of the heavier weight classes has now gone to the UFC.
Many are seeing this event as the UFC’s first major attempt in a long time to capture the large Japanese Mixed Martial Art’s fan base. Since the beginning of PRIDE when they were able to sell out the Tokyo Dome, which holds nearly 100,000 people, the popularity of MMA in Japan has fluctuated, hitting a low over the last two to three years. However, with the emergence of DREAM and World Victory Road, the popularity has again begun to rise and it is obvious the UFC wants in on the action.
The thing that makes the Yoshihiro Akiyama signing so much different that other Japanese signings over the last few years, including Akihiro Gono and Kazuhiro Nakajima, is the fact Akiyama is very much prominent in modern day DREAM. When Gono and Nakajima were signed neither was fighting because of the death of PRIDE (R.I.P.) and therefore it only made sense for them to move to the UFC.
Another name the UFC has been trying to get their hands on is 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Judo Gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. He has been spotted at numerous recent UFC events and rumors have run rampant over the last few months about when he will make the leap. What makes this story even more interesting is that Ishii was recently spotted at a Japanese event sporting an M-1 Global Affliction t-shirt (http://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2009/02/04/KFullNormal20090204034_p.html). What do we make of this? Ishii has stated he wants his MMA career to start in the UFC but as the old expression goes ‘money talks’, so we will keep our eye on this developing story.
Takanori Gomi Interview
Former #1 World Lightweight recently had an interview with Sportsnavi to discuss his lackluster performance against Satoru Kitaoka. Here is a translated version:
—How have you been since your last fight with Satoru Kitaoka?
I though you wanted to asked me about that fight.
—Of course, it would be nice if you tell me about that.
As you saw, I couldn't do anything. I suppose fans who knew me since PRIDE considered that I looked like a totally different person. I don't even know why. I didn't feel any energy in the ring. After the fight, I felt like I was free. I thought I fulfilled my duty.
—Do you mean that you resigned from a representer of the top lightweight fighter?
I suppose so. I hadn't proven myself in the last few fights. I was training, yet everything was falling apart. I couldn't put together because my training wasn't enough. My skills went down in the last two years. I experienced a lot in the last two years. I quit Kiguchi dojo without thinking well, and started my gym. I felt responsibility to take care of my students, and I was passive about my fight. I was just waiting and see who I fought with.
—The title of the tournament was “road to Gomi”
I have no excuse about my performance and my loss. Kitaoka was entirely better than me. I I hope he becomes a great champion and defends his title.
—Kitaoka asked you a rematch in the ring.
I wonder if he still wants the rematch. He completely dominated me. I want him to move forward to bring more fans to Sengoku.
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