I'm kinda surprised no one else has posted this. The revamped M-1 MMA organization has teamed up with some former Pride employees to put on a New Year's Eve event in Japan. Some people think this is just one last event to say goodbye to the Japanese fans of Pride while others think it might be something more. As of right now the matches haven't been set but judging by who's on the card it looks like it should be a sweet event.
Here are some of the fighters that will be fighting that night:
Fedor Emelianenko
Gilbert Melendez
Joachim Hansen
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai
Shinya Aoki (flashy pants and all lol)
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Matsuhiro Ishida
Hidehiko Hasegawa
Kazuo Misaki
Luiz Azeredo
Also, Ricardo Arona has said that he's signed with M-1 and according to Graciemag he will not be fighting in this New Year's Eve event but will likely be fighting in an M-1 event in February.
Is anyone else stoked about this?
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
Well it is traditional to watch the Last Emperor on New Year's eve!
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
Fedor vs. Arona in Rings is a classic match- chech it out on youtube.
This should be a great event no matter what the UFC noobs on Sherdog are blathering on about. Match any of those light, middle, or welters up and you've got a championship caliber fight.
I like the title of the event too. It could translate as "you gonna man up?"
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
One of my clients mentioned in passing that her husband's (also a client) cousin just started up some big extreme fighting organization that signed some famous Russian fighter.
If all goes as planned, I should be watching M-1 live in Chicago in February....from very good seats.
Good stuff...guest speaker JP SUmmit 2008 Fedor Emelienko!!! You heard it here first!
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
One of my clients mentioned in passing that her husband's (also a client) cousin just started up some big extreme fighting organization that signed some famous Russian fighter.
If all goes as planned, I should be watching M-1 live in Chicago in February....from very good seats.
Bill
That'd be pretty sweet. I hate you with jealousy. lol
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
Just remember your old pals here in case there are any extra comp tickets Bill
JZ Calvacante will be fighting Shinya Aoki on the NYE card which should be a great matchup. We'll finally see someone that can really test Aoki's game.
Don't know if any of you guys have seen the HEROs tourneys but JZ is alot of fun to watch. Check DailyMotion.com
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I was doing my training this morning and chatting with a trainer that works out of there and it turns out he is JZ Cavalcante's S&C coach.
He's heading to Brazil tomorrow to put the finishing touches on his preparation for Aoki. JZ apparently walks around at 180 so he'll likely have a pretty good size advantage.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Ishida/Melendez and Kawajiri/Azeredo have fight of the year potential. Plus those three fighters are all from Ibaraki - my home away from home
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Ishida/Melendez and Kawajiri/Azeredo have fight of the year potential. Plus those three fighters are all from Ibaraki - my home away from home
Ya. Definitely an awesome card. Have you read anything else about them working with the former Pride staff after this event? I keep hearing rumors that the Pride staffers are saying this is sort of a goodbye to the Japanese fans but Fedor and his manager have said that they plan to work with them in 2008 to put on more events.
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
I'm thinking Hunt vs Aleks, Fedor vs. Arona or better yet Barnett would make this event into legend.
But since Hong Man Choi got his giant head used as a speed bag but not KO'd in his first round K-1 fight today he might be OK enough to put in against Fedor. I really hope not though.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
__________________
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
That dude is huge. Choi is actually put together pretty well for such a big man. If I was Fedor I'd leg kick the crap out of him and go for the takedown. Then hammerfist and soccer kick him into the new year. It'd suck to go for an armbar or something and have Choi role out of it to top position.
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
Yarennoka in 9 hours and K-1 starts at 9pm west coast. Anyone watching?
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
I think Melendez vs. Ishida was fight of the night. Both guys brought it the entire 2 rounds. Btw I think Melendez should've gotten the decision. He completely dominated the 2nd round & dominated striking & sub attempts both rounds. But when your fighting a popular Jpn fighter in Japan close decisions are often anything but.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I think Melendez vs. Ishida was fight of the night. Both guys brought it the entire 2 rounds. Btw I think Melendez should've gotten the decision. He completely dominated the 2nd round & dominated striking & sub attempts both rounds. But when your fighting a popular Jpn fighter in Japan close decisions are often anything but.
Ya, I totally agree. Actually I think Melendez was robbed. He beat Ishida in almost every area. The only thing Ishida did was get more takedowns and took Melendez's back a few times, both of which he didn't really do anything with but keep holding on. The only damage he did was the payback slam after Melendez nailed him with one. Melendez easily won the standup, he did more damage, he attempted to finish more, and he finished much stronger. Aside from the arm bar attempt, Ishida didn't do much of anything but hang on and stall for most of the second round. They both fought hard and neither of them dominated but I don't see how anyone could've given that fight to Ishida.
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Big New Year's Eve event
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