The decline of Japanese MMA will surely be written as one of the saddest chapters in contemporary combat-sports history. The demise of the sport in the country where it stakes it's claim of origin is a sad paradox and one with no silver lining. Describing the heydays of Jap-MMA conjures up almost fairy-tale like discussions; Gladiators locked in fierce combat, native warriors defending their nation's Pride against the foreign Gaijin from every corner of the world. Brazilian marauders with tattooed skulls, North-American powerhouses with bear-like strength and soft-spoken mysterious Russians fought and thrilled massive crowds becoming demi-gods!
Now - We have no more MMA superheros....
Sure Jon Jones and GSP are perfect for fifteen minutes on Jimmy Kimmell but somehow I preferred Josh Barnett rapping, Rampage abusing shop assistants and Alistair Overeem in girl-carrying contests. With that thought in mind we are one week away from perhaps the last chapter in Dream's amazing run. At the Dream Fight for Japan GP Final we will see the likes of Tokoro, Miyata, Takaya, Sakurai, Mizuno and "The Bone Crusher" Kawajiri remind us that Pride will never die. I'll watch this one and hope that it is not the last.
Lest we forget' below are some of the best Japanese MMA Posters - Sheer Epicness ;-)
Cool posters but not too sure about the Shark one...........Sharks aren't really dangerous. It's just a myth perpetuated by the low brow media. I though everyone knew that?
ReplyDeleteGood post otherwise shorty!
Thanks Jock!
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