SB Nation User Blog: Omasuki

Hitomi Akano's Manager Angrily Details "Cyborg" Cheating

Omasuki — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:04:22 -0000

Megumi Fujii, a cornerwoman of Hitomi Akano, and Shu Hirata, Akano's manager, posted blog articles in Japanese regarding what happened at the Strikeforce weigh-ins. Here is the summary, mostly from the manager's blog:

Apr 10

2pm - First weight-in

Cyborg weighted at 152 for a 145 pound match (Akano passed at 143.5).

The Athletic Commission instructed Cyborg to cut 2.5 pound by 8 pm.

6pm - second weight-in

The schedule has been pulled at the request of Cyborg, and she wieghted at 150.5 with her swimsuit on.

Shootboxe people said her swimsuit was wet with sweat and demanded re-check naked in privacy.

Behind the closed doors, she weighted at 144 pounds.

Akano demanded to check again naked in her presence and Cyborg weighted at 150.1 pounds.

At this point the Athletic Commisson declared that it's the official weight for the match. Since Akano was 143.5 pound, the official weight diference was 6.6 pounds.

California rule does not allow the fight to happen when there is more than 6 pounds weight difference. But for unknown reason the Commission allowed the fight, and left the decision to Akano.

7pm

Shu Hirata, Akano's manager, declared the cancellation of the fight. Akano left the hotel. Strikeforce people called the manager to renegotiate.

Apr 11

1am

Cyborg weighted at 158 after her Pizza dinner.

2am

After lengthy negotiations between Strikeforce and Akano party, the fight was back on.

Hirata got angry at Cyborg's unwillingness to cut weight between the first and second weigh-ins, potential manipulation with the scales, and the attitude which the Chute Boxe people maintained and all the excuses they made along the way.

Megumi wrote it was sad Cyborg did not try hard to cut her weight to comply, and she did not come to Akano when the fight was over. A fight without rules and respect is not something called MMA, she says.

Link to Hirata: http://ameblo.jp/shu1968/entry-10240450996.html

Link to Megumi: http://ameblo.jp/fujiimegumi/page-6.html

*****

I think Cyborg did not show respect to Akano after the fight because she knows what she is doing. In post match Interview Cyborg aplogized for the fans, but not for Akano.

I watch Japanese female MMA fights regulary, and when I first heard Akano vs. Cyborg happens, unaware of weight difference, I thought Akano could really win the fight. She is a very solid grappler in her weight class, and is very experienced. I even wondered if it's okay for Strikeforce to make this fight happen.

Maybe Cyborg thought the same, and had to rely on her weight.

Kimbo Slice to K-1!

Omasuki — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:32:18 -0000

Japanese tabloid Tokyo Sports reported that Kimbo Slice will be making appearance at Dec 6 K-1 show in Yokohama Japan to say hi to Japanese fans, K-1 Event Producer Tanigawa confirmed. His K-1 debut match will be in March, vs. current K-1 heavyweight champ, Badr Hari.

K-1 is basically kickboxing without elbow and muay thai clinch. Good for Kimbo not have to worry about ground game.

In Japan, Fuji TV (one of major network TV) covers major K-1 events, including Dec 6 show, on prime time. I believe US fans can also see K-1 on HDNet, starting this show.

HT: http://omasuki.blog122.fc2.com/

Thoughts on "UFC to Japan"

Omasuki — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:49:18 -0000

Japanese sports tabloids are very conservative when it comes to publishing news articles on MMA. A Japanese MMA writer once confessed in his own blog that since he's born and raised in Pro Wrestling journalism where keeping keyfabe is the name of the game, he's still trapped with that attitude when dealing with MMA news, so he cannot publish articles without the promoter's approval. As a fan I am enjoying US MMA news sites because I can find information on potential fight cards for the upcoming DREAM and Sengoku events much earlier than domestic news outlets, although often inaccurate.

So when I see "the UFC coming to Japan next spring" story in Japanese sports tabloid and consider the nature and mentality of those tabloids, my take is that this should be pretty done deal.

Actually the story sounds weird in many ways. Dana White praises Gomi and Kid. But he never praises someone who does not belong to UFC. He says he is willing to cut one-match contract with them. If this is possible, a lot of other things should have turned out quite differently for UFC.

"Are Japanese fighters stronger than UFC fighters?" - are these really Dana's words? I do not think so. These are just what Japanese fans would like to hear (it should have gained much more attention if it's a year ago, though). Very carefully worded.

I think UFC may already get DREAM and Sengoku. I do not know what I mean by "get", but this explains everything nicely.

For many Japanese MMA fans. it is the UFC who killed PRIDE. UFC is a big bad guy who destroys everything. In addition, there were no UFC on Japanese TV for the past 2 years so casual fans simply do not know what it is. UFC brand does not work as it is here. Many DREAM fans have never seen GSP, who I believe could be a huge star here too if promoted properly.

For UFC to enter Japanese MMA market, spending millions of marketing and advertising is not a solution. Man on the street knows what PRIDE and K-1 is in this country(Problem is man on the street does not know DREAM). Akebono vs Bob Sapp was watched by 50 million people. Just leverage and stretch the already existing popularity. Say PRIDE style fights are back instead of saying UFC is coming.

As long as I personally have been observing, UFC is not very good at executing this type of quiet, patient and very locally adapted market entry strategy. But maybe they are starting doing the right way. I assume someone deliberate may be helping UFC. I would not be surprised if the person who is helping UFC is Kazuyoshi Ishii, a K-1 founder and a huge fixer in the industry.

National network TV deal is a big missing element here. I would like to see the development.

from Tokyo

UFC to Japan next Spring is sure thing?

Omasuki — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:34:48 -0000

Below are rough translation from recent Japanese sports tabloids.I am wondering why I have not seen any of this in US MMA news sites and blogs.

I started to see a series of these news in tabloids this week. As a fan I get the impression that these came really out of nowhere and hard to believe at first look.

Hope someone pick this up and investigate.

Sports Houchi

Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta told the reporter about thier plan to hold an event in Japan next Spring. White mentioned names such as Kazushi Sakuraba and Yamamoto Kid Norifumi of Dream, and Hidehiko Yoshida and Takanori Gomi of Sengoku, and asserted that fans would love to see if they are stronger than UFC fighters or not. White further suggested Gomi vs BJ Penn and Kid Yamamoto vs Uriah Faber matchups would be likely. "Yamamoto vs Faber is my priority. And I would advice Gomi not to waste his prime time "

Nikkansports

Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta of UFC suggested making offers to Takanori Gomi of Sengoku and Kid Yamamoto of DREAM in the near futute. Acknowledging that Gomi and Yamamoto are the most attractive Japanese fighters, they told they want to hold the event in Japan next Spring, which was previously slated to be held next Summer They further suggested that for Gomi and Yamamoto, one-match contract would be negotiable.

Sengoku representative: "We intend to let the fighters do what they want to do".

Keiichi Sasahara, Event Producer, Dream: "All I can say right now is it is Impossible. However, if asked, we do not intend to reject to have the discussion with UFC.