Sunday, April 25, 2021
No Holds Barred: Kevin Carter on the Rise and Decline and Rise of Sumo in America (Part Two)
We spoke with him by phone Wednesday, April 14.
In the 1990s, sumo in Japan began to reach a wider international audience, including in the U.S., with the emergence of several stars who were not Japanese.
"You had Akebono, Musashimaru, Konishiki," Kevin Carter recalled.
Konishiki, an American born in Hawaii, was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach ozeki, the second-highest rank in sumo. Many believed that he would have been promoted to yokozuna, the highest rank, had he been Japanese.
In 1993, Akebono, also an American born in Hawaii, became the first non-Japanese-born wrestler and the first American to be promoted to yokozuna.
Musashimaru, born in American Samoa and who grew up in Hawaii, became in 1999 the second foreign-born wrestler to be promoted to yokozuna.
"And then you had a few other Hawaiians who were in juryo, which is the second top professional division. So these guys were also in the top 50. You had those three top guys, and you had maybe three, four, or five guys who were one step below. And they were all thriving. The Hawaiians were really thriving. The Americans were really thriving," he said.
But that success, though increasing sumo's worldwide appeal, did not sit well with many who ran the Japan Sumo Association, which governs the sport in Japan. The result was a blanket decision which reverberates today.
"And then they banned all foreigners from coming in."
With that, sumo's popularity, and where it was practiced outside Japan, radically changed.
"When that happened, that basically put the kibosh on Hawaii. There was nothing for the Hawaiians to aspire to anymore. They really, they were basically told, 'We're not taking any of you for any reason.'
"There was like a ten-year period where very few foreigners were coming in. They let a few guys in from Mongolia. They let a few guys in from China. But they had cut off other parts of Europe for a little while."
And for some, this discrimination persists.
"They still have an unspoken ban on Hawaiians, just like they have an unspoken ban on Africans and other Black people," he noted.
At the same time, his own active participation in sumo competition was coming to an end. His last match was in 2002, but he still kept up with the sport.
In 2005, it appeared that sumo would take a major step forward as an international sport with the emergence of the World Sumo Challenge. Their inaugural event was held October 22, 2005, at Madison Square Garden, and was shown on tape delay on ESPN2 that December. This was a professional event featuring top sumo wrestlers from around the world, planned to lead to a worldwide tour the following year.
Some of the same people who organized the 1998 "Night of the Giants" sumo event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, were also involved in the World Sumo Challenge. One of them was Kevin Carter's old sumo coach, Yoshisada Yonezuka, who ran the Cranford Judo Karate Center in Cranford, New Jersey, and who also had trained Manny Yarbrough, who also was retired from sumo by this time.
It would have seemed logical for the organizers of the World Sumo Challenge to have brought in Kevin Carter, with his experience and record in many areas of sumo. He also lived reasonably close to New York City. But, surprisingly to him, the call never came.
With that snub, it was the end of the line for him in sumo. He said his attitude then was, "Fuck sumo."
While the World Sumo Challenge drew some 8000 mainly enthusiastic fans to Madison Square Garden, their 2006 tour was a bust. Now called the World Sumo League, they had no TV deal, fan attendance in the arenas was quite low, and the tour was abandoned midway, never to be resumed.
All these blunders drove one of its most serious devotees, Kevin Carter, from the sport. He no longer even followed it closely or watched sumo events.
The appeal of the sport, though, and his love of sumo, were still lingering. In more recent years he has done some refereeing and judging, and was asked to be a referee at the 2020 U.S. National Sumo Championships, organized by the U.S. Sumo Federation. He wanted to do this, but was only unable to do so because of job commitments. In the meantime, he also became a black belt in judo.
As we have noted many times, there has been a marked and recent revival of sumo in the U.S. New clubs have been formed and new tournaments have been held, a growth impeded mainly by the coronavirus pandemic. With mass vaccinations going on in the U.S, expect sumo to thrive even more, and, unlike in Japan, among a very diverse cross-section of people.
And while just what Kevin Carter will do in sumo today is not clear, he wants to, and certainly should, return to playing an important role in the sport.
"I really would enjoy seeing that revival and being part of that revival," he stressed.
So this story of Kevin Carter and his love of sumo is not yet over. There hopefully will be some more fond chapters to come, because, as the late Teddy Pendergrass sang:
"So good, so good, so good,
"When somebody loves you back."
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No Holds Barred is also available on these sites and apps:
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No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
LenneHardt.com, the home of Lenne Hardt, the legendary MMA and sports announcer, voice actor, singer, actress, and comedienne. Lenne is also known for her jazz vocals with her Lenne Hardt Jazz Cabaret Band. For more information, to book her, or to order a custom message from her, go to LenneHardt.com.
Skullz Fight Shop, home of the Skullz Double-End Bag, the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Fight Shop - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://skullzfightshop.com.
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Labels: Eddie Goldman, Hawaii, Japan, Kevin Carter, No Holds Barred, sumo, wrestling
Friday, January 22, 2021
"The Death Rattle of the Tokyo Olympics" on No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My latest piece, "The Death Rattle of the Tokyo Olympics", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription, for the suggested monthly price of US$10, is required to read it. The article is at https://www.patreon.com/posts/death-rattle-of-46529758.
Labels: cancellation, coronavirus, Eddie Goldman, IOC, Japan, No Holds Barred, Patreon, Thomas Bach, Tokyo Olympics, Yoshihide Suga
Monday, January 11, 2021
January Sumo Tournament Article on the No Holds Barred Patreon Page
My piece, "Amidst Raging Pandemic and Tokyo Area State of Emergency, January Sumo Tournament Proceeds", is up on the No Holds Barred Patreon page. A subscription, for the low monthly price of US$10, is required to read it. The article is at <b><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/amidst-raging-of-46068096" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/posts/amidst-raging-of-46068096</a></b>.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, Japan, No Holds Barred, Patreon, sumo, Tokyo
Saturday, October 14, 2017
No Holds Barred: Frank Shamrock on Grappling Sakuraba in Rizin
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with MMA legend Frank Shamrock.
Now 44 and retired as a fighter for many years, he will be returning to competition at the Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2017 Autumn this Sunday, October 15.
This match, however, will not be an MMA fight, but a submission-only grappling rules match with a ten-minute time limit. His opponent will be another MMA legend, but someone whom he never fought in MMA, the 48-year-old Kazushi Sakuraba.
This event takes place at the Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka, Japan.
The main event on this card is a women's MMA fight between RENA and Andy Nguyen, which is a first round fight in the Rizin Woman's Super Atom Tournament.
We spoke with Frank Shamrock by phone Saturday while he was in Japan (Friday New York time).
Asked why he decided to take this match against Sakuraba, whom he called "a master at submissions," he said, "The reason why I always wanted to fight him, we had the same lineage of teachings. His teachers are my teachers."
He continued, "The main reason I want to fight him is, we have the same style, and I've never fought my style, my lineage before."
We discussed more on how that lineage comes from catch wrestling, how he was contacted to be in this match, how he has had "three careers" in the combat sports, why real professional catch wrestling can succeed if it is entertaining, how this match is a one-off, how Rizin can expand its popularity beyond Japan, his current work in television and a campaign to build awareness about mental health, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.
Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.
Labels: catch wrestling, Eddie Goldman, Frank Shamrock, grappling, Japan, Kazushi Sakuraba, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin
Monday, December 19, 2016
No Holds Barred: Andy Nguyen on Her Dec. 31 Rizin Fight
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with King of the Cage atomweight champion Andy "The CrAsian" Nguyen.
Her next fight will take place Saturday, December 31, at the Rizin Fighting Federation event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Her opponent will be three-time world women's wrestling champion Miyuu Yamamoto.
We spoke with Andy Nguyen by phone Sunday.
Discussing how her varied background, she said, "My first amateur fight was MMA. And then my second amateur fight was a boxing match."
Her style, she said, is that of a "boxer merged into muay Thai merged into jiu-jitsu."
We discussed the growth of women's MMA and how "we fight harder"; how she once won a ring girl competition; how she got involved with Rizin; her plans for fighting Miyuu Yamamoto; how she got involved with MMA when she saw a live fight shortly after it had been legalized in South Carolina, where she lives; balancing her roles as a mother and a fighter; her background as a Vietnamese-American and how she got her nickname "The CrAsian"; her future plans to be a promoter, commentator, trainer, and even a ring girl again; and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is sponsored by:
The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to http://boxingtribune-news.com.
The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.
Labels: Andy Nguyen, CrAsian, Eddie Goldman, Japan, Miyuu Yamamoto, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin, women
Friday, September 02, 2016
No Holds Barred: Destanie Yarbrough on Her Sept. 25 Rizin Fight
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with MMA fighter Destanie Yarbrough.
With a record of 1-0 in MMA and an impressive and varied athletic background in women's pro American football, track and field events, and other sports, she will be fighting Sunday, September 25, at the Rizin Fighting Federation event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. International television and streaming availability will be announced soon.
Her Rizin debut will not be an easy one, as her opponent is multi-time jiu-jitsu and grappling champion and star, Gabi Garcia.
We spoke with Destanie Yarbrough by phone Thursday.
"To go against Gabi," she said, "I actually grew up watching her in jiu-jitsu, so it's kind of like an honor to go against her. But at the same time, she's my opponent, so I have to look at her differently. But being the underdog coming into this fight, people not knowing who I am or my background, is kind of a thriller to me because I like to prove people wrong."
She added, "I just can't wait to shock the MMA world, I should say. But this fight, it's a great honor."
We discussed more on her athletic background and training in combat sports, how she has retired from pro football and now feels physically and mentally ready to pursue a career in MMA, why she feels confident going into this fight, how she will try to keep this fight with Gabi Garcia standing, how she wants to become one of the best in MMA and re-establish competition in the women's heavyweight division, how this will be her first trip to Japan, and much, much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to http://boxingtribune-news.com.
The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.
The National Registry for Wrestling, whose mission is to increase wrestling's fanbase, to build a registry of all wrestling fans, to serve as a connecting point for all wrestling fans, and to provide TV and Internet listings for wrestling. For more information, go to NR4W.com.
Labels: Destanie Yarbrough, Eddie Goldman, football, Gabi Garcia, Japan, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin Fighting Federation, women
Friday, August 05, 2016
No Holds Barred: Jerry Millen on Rizin Open Weight Tournament
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Jerry Millen, senior vice president of the Rizin Fighting Federation.
Rizin's next show will take place Sunday, September 25, featuring the opening round of their 2016 open weight MMA tournament. The second round will take place Thursday, December 29, with the finals at the traditional Japanese MMA New Year's Eve show, on Saturday, December 31. All these shows are scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, with international television and streaming availability to be announced soon.
We spoke with Jerry Millen by phone Thursday.
Discussing this open weigh tournament, all of whose participants have not yet been announced, he explained that it will feature a mix of veteran fighters and potential rising stars.
"Cro Cop's fighting, obviously. We haven't announced his opponent yet," he said.
"Also, there's a bunch of young, up-and-coming fighters that we've signed at Rizin, and also from various promotions, who will be fighting. Jiří Procházka, guys like that, really strong, young MMA talent coming up, who'll be fighting on the 25th to earn a spot to move up to December 29th, which will actually begin the eight-man portion of the tournament, where Wanderlei Silva take place." After being the victim of a hit-and-run car accident recently, Wanderlei had surgery and is now rehabbing, he added.
"Cro Cop hopefully will move on," he said, setting up a potential New Year's Eve tournament final of Cro Cop vs. Wanderlei.
A key reason for using veterans such as Wanderlei and Cro Cop is to bring back the old fans of Pride, he said. Much of MMA, and especially UFC, are becoming "homogenized," he argued. "It needs to be fun again." At the same time, as Rizin strives to become "Pride 2.0", it will develop young fighters who may one day become the new Cro Cops, Sakurabas, etc.
In addition, we discussed the upcoming MMA debut of three-time world wrestling champion Miyuu Yamamoto. She is scheduled to make that debut on the September 25th Rizin event against an opponent to be announced. Also on this card will be her son, Erson Yamamoto, making it the first time in MMA history where a mother and son will be fighting on the same card.
We also discussed the prospects for seeing Fedor Emelianenko in Rizin again, how Rizin operates as a federation and cooperates with numerous MMA promotions all over the world, how long Dana White might last with the UFC under their new ownership and management, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to http://boxingtribune-news.com.
The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.
The National Registry for Wrestling, whose mission is to increase wrestling's fanbase, to build a registry of all wrestling fans, to serve as a connecting point for all wrestling fans, and to provide TV and Internet listings for wrestling. For more information, go to NR4W.com.
Labels: Cro Cop, Eddie Goldman, Japan, Jerry Millen, Jiří Procházka, Miyuu Yamamoto, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin Fighting Federation, Wanderlei Silva
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
No Holds Barred: Wallid Ismail on Rizin and Jungle Fight
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Wallid Ismail, who is the founder of the Brazilian MMA promotion Jungle Fight Championship.
Jungle Fight 82 takes place Saturday, October 24, 2015, in Clube Sírio in São Paulo, Brazil. The main event is Ciro "Bad Boy" Rodrigues vs. Eric "Parrudo" Barbosa. Jungle Fight shows are televised on the Band broadcast network in Brazil and ESPN Deportes in the U.S.
Beyond Brazil, Jungle Fight is gaining more international recognition. Wallid has just returned from Japan, where he was part of the inaugural press conference held October 8 introducing the newest Japanese MMA promotion, the Rizin Fighting Federation.
This new organization was founded by former executives of the Pride Fighting Championships, which from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s had been the largest and most important MMA promotion in the world. Unlike other organizations, Rizin will work with many other companies around the world, without requiring fighters to sign exclusive contracts with them and leave their promotions. Jungle Fight is one of those companies.
We spoke with Wallid Ismail by Skype this past Tuesday.
Speaking of Rizin and its head, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, he said, "I think it's going to be great for the sport. It's going to be great for Japan, because no matter what, to doing good in Japan needed to be a Japanese. Because he understands the market, he understands everything about the TV deals, the sponsorship deals in Japan, is very different [from] the United States."
Unlike many others, however, he does not see Rizin as competing with UFC.
"UFC do a great job all over the world. And I think Rizin's coming to help the sport," he said. Rizin is "going to be another organization can help the sport, especially in Asia and Japan." He thus described UFC as sort of a "World Cup" of MMA, while Rizin will be a "World Cup of Clubs." And he said he and Jungle Fight plan to continue working with UFC as well as now also working with Rizin.
Much of the fight card for Rizin's debut show, the Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2015, a three-day extravaganza scheduled for the week of New Year's Eve from December 29 to December 31, remains to be finalized. But he plans to have fighting on that show the Jungle Fight bantamweight champion, Maike Linhares, as well as also possibly a heavyweight.
We also discussed how Jungle Fight's ratings dramatically increased when its shows moved to broadcast TV on the Band network in Brazil from cable, plans for an English-language telecast aimed at the U.S., how many fights on Jungle Fight's cards end in knockouts or submissions and have lots of action, and much, much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.
Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.
Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.com.
Labels: Brazil, Eddie Goldman, Japan, Jungle Fight Championship, MMA, No Holds Barred, Rizin Fighting Federation, Wallid Ismail
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
No Holds Barred: Tadashi Tanaka on Rizin Fighting Federation
(Photo courtesy of Tadashi Tanaka/Miruhon.net.)
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with our long-time colleague and friend, the Japanese mixed martial arts and puroresu (Japanese pro wrestling) journalist Tadashi Tanaka of Miruhon.net.
He covered the inaugural press conference held October 8 introducing the newest Japanese MMA promotion, Rizin Fighting Federation.
We spoke with Tadashi Tanaka by Skype Monday.
The head of Rizin is someone well-known in the combat sports world: Nobuyuki Sakakibara. Sakakibara had formerly headed the Pride Fighting Championships, which from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s had been the largest and most important MMA promotion in the world. But after a scandal linking the organization to the Yakuza, the Japanese mob, Pride telecasts were dropped by the influential Fuji TV, the promotion soon folded, and Sakakibara left the combat sports world.
Now Rizin seeks to take the place of Pride, and is adopting many of the methods which made Pride so popular, including Pride rules, using a ring instead of a cage, and signing an international group of star fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko, Kazushi Sakuraba, Shinya Aoki, and Gabi Garcia, who will make her MMA debut. In addition, Rizin is actually trying to create a federation, and will be working directly with other major promotions including Bellator in the U.S., Jungle Fight in Brazil, BAMMA in the U.K., KSW in Poland, Road FC in Korea, and Bushido in Lithuania.
Rizin's first show, the Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2015, will actually be a three-day extravaganza scheduled for the week of New Year's Eve. Sakuraba will fight Aoki on December 29, there will be a fan expo December 30, and the main card featuring Fedor against an opponent to be announced will be December 31.
Already Spike TV in the U.S. had announced that it will televise fights from this card, likely on tape-delay because of the time difference between the U.S. and Japan. But major news has also come out in Japan, as once again Fuji TV will be televising fights from this card as well.
"The most important thing is, Fuji TV backs this new promotion. That's the biggest news," said Tadashi Tanaka. In Japan, Fuji TV is one of only five major networks which broadcast free, terrestrial TV, with everything else being "tiny," he said.
Fuji TV's involvement is of particular note because it was articles by Tadashi Tanaka and others in the Japanese publication Shukan Gendai that publicly exposed the Pride-Yakuza connections and eventually led to Fuji TV dropping Pride.
The question arises as to the nature of the backers of this new promotion. And Tadashi Tanaka believes that this new organization "is very clean."
He explained that in Japan, "The Yakuza is essentially dead." The government has had a major crackdown on it, and the gangs themselves are splintering. Thus, Fuji TV and various sponsors feel safe in backing this new venture, he said.
Even so, that is no guarantee that it will all work and fans will buy tickets to live events and watch it on TV. "We don't know the success," he said, and will have to wait and see how Rizin does.
We also discussed this new federation, which he characterized as in essence an "anti-UFC alliance." Fans in Japan and many other parts of the world prefer MMA in a ring rather than a cage, he said, and also are not that concerned about who will be Fedor's opponent because they mainly want to see him fight again.
Expect more announcements soon about the involvement with Rizin of others, including K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii, he said.
We also discussed the "totally bogus" rumors that Rizin is backed by "oil money", possible opponents for Fedor including Masakatsu Funaki, the New Year's Eve tradition in Japan of televising major combat sports events, and much, much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.
The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free on the App Store.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 12 and 13, 2015, for the sixth annual MMA World Expo, featuring two days of the Renzo Gracie Open 2015 no-gi and gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.
Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.
Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.com.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, Fedor Emelianenko, Fuji TV, Gabi Garcia, Japan, Kazushi Sakuraba, MMA, No Holds Barred, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, Pride, Rizin Fighting Federation, Shinya Aoki, Tadashi Tanaka, Yakuza
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
No Holds Barred: Kazu Watanabe and Steve Koepfer on Sambo, Japan, and Catch Wrestling
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with three-time Japanese national sambo champion Kazu Watanabe and Sambo Steve Koepfer of New York Combat Sambo.
Kazu Watanabe has been visiting New York recently, both teaching sambo classes at New York Combat Sambo and acquainting himself with the culture and many attractions of New York.
We spoke with both Kazu Watanabe and Sambo Steve Koepfer Sunday at New York Combat Sambo in midtown Manhattan. Steve also helped explain some of the questions, which were all in English, to Kazu.
Although he started training in judo first, Kazu Watanabe has become a big devotee of sambo.
"Sambo is very creative," he said. He had trained at the famed Kiguchi Dojo near Tokyo for about 20 years in both sambo and judo. Two years ago, he retired from active competition, but he still trains other athletes in sambo and judo.
This year will be a big one for sambo in Japan, as the 2014 world championships, sanctioned by FIAS, the international sambo federation, will be held there. The dates are November 20-24, 2014, in Narita, Japan.
Another topic we discussed was catch wrestling. Sambo Steve, who also teaches catch wrestling, had several wrestlers competing at the 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship, presented by the Snake Pit U.S.A., held July 27 at the MMA World Expo in New York.
Speaking of that tournament, the first real catch wrestling championship in New York in 94 years, he said, "I was pleased. I though it turned out really good. I think it exposed a lot of people" to catch wrestling.
"There was a huge crowd standing around the catch mat watching, much more than any other event going on at the Expo, I think. So it was fascinating to people."
In addition, we discussed the status of sambo and catch wrestling in Japan, why Steve believes that putting sambo in the Olympics might "ruin" the sport, Japanese food and tea, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The Liberty Bell Classic / King of Catch Wrestling Tournament, presented by the North American Catch Wrestling Association and Scientific Wrestling. In this tournament, you can only win by pin or submission, with no points. It all takes place Saturday, August 30, at Primal Gym, 231 Bakers Basin Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648. For more information, go to kingofcatchwrestling.com.
Snake Pit U.S.A., whose primary mission is to breathe new life into real catch-as-catch-can wrestling and help lead the catch wrestling revolution for martial artists and those pursuing recreational training and fitness alike. For more information, go to SnakePitUSA.com.
The Catch Wrestling Alliance, a catch wrestling promotion that works with the highest level catch wrestlers from around the world with the goal of reviving the great sport of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance organizes catch wrestling sporting events, and its primary organizer is Dr. Raul Ramirez. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.
Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.
Labels: catch wrestling, Eddie Goldman, Japan, Kazu Watanabe, New York, No Holds Barred, sambo, Steve Koepfer
Monday, June 30, 2014
No Holds Barred: Jessica Aguilar, Still the Champ
Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/WSOF
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.
She has just successfully defended her title with a dominating five-round unanimous decision over Japanese veteran MMA fighter and kickboxer Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino, who has never lost in MMA by submission or knockout/TKO. This fight took place at WSOF 10 on June 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was telecast live in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.
We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Monday.
While she is happy with her commanding victory, she did indicate that she had hoped to be the first to submit Emi Fujino.
"I need to get stronger and I need to work more on my wrestling and jiu-jitsu," she said.
"Again, I'm back to work and sharpening up those tools. But I'm confident that I'll get better. In each fight that I want to do now from now on for my career, I want to see a different fighter, a more advanced, a more intelligent [fighter]. And I just want to continue showcasing that I'm a better fighter, every fight, from now on."
We discussed how this fight ended up mostly standing, how she "grew" because of this fight, her plans to compete in more grappling events, her work with youth, the support she has received from the LGBT community, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship, presented by the Snake Pit U.S.A., taking place Sunday, July 27, at the MMA World Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. You can only win by pin or submission. Best two out of three falls. All styles welcome. For more information or to register, go to snakepitusa.com.
The Catch Wrestling Alliance, a catch wrestling promotion that works with the highest level catch wrestlers from around the world with the goal of reviving the great sport of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance organizes catch wrestling sporting events, and its primary organizer is Dr. Raul Ramirez. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.
Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.
Labels: American Top Team, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Emi Fujino, grappling, Japan, Jessica Aguilar, jiu-jitsu, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF
Thursday, May 22, 2014
No Holds Barred: Jessica Aguilar on Her June 21 WSOF 10 Fight
(Photo credit: WSOF/Lucas Noonan)
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the world's top-ranked MMA fighter in the women's 115-pound division, and the WSOF women's strawweight champion, American Top Team fighter Jessica Aguilar.
Her first title defense will at WSOF 10 on Saturday, June 21, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her opponent will be Japanese veteran MMA fighter and kickboxer Emi "The Kamikaze Angel" Fujino, who has never lost in MMA by submission or knockout/TKO.
This fight will be part of the live telecast of WSOF 10 in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network.
We spoke with Jessica Aguilar by phone Wednesday.
Speaking of her opponent, she said, "I know that she's very experienced and she's a vet. She's fought tough competition and I know that she loves to fight, she comes to fight."
She added, "That's normal with Japanese fighters. They always come to fight. They're warriors and they're very tough."
And she noted, "She's never lost by submission. She's lost by decision. She's tough to tap. She has a wrestling background as well and she looks strong. So it's going to be a really, really good fight for me."
We also discussed her connections with Japan. "I love Japan," she said, adding that she hopes to fight there again soon.
In addition, she spoke about the many activities in which she is involved outside combat sports in her community in south Florida and elsewhere. Those included hosting an event as part of this year's Aqua Girl events in south Florida, whose aim "is to provide a safe and positive environment for LBT [lesbian, bisexual, and transgender] women to socialize and network"; attending and being honored on stage along with other openly LGBT athletes at the 2014 GLAAD Media Awards in New York; and doing volunteer work at the Miami Children's Hospital, among other things.
Plus, she also recently had a successful return to the mat, winning a gold medal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the IBJJF Boca Raton International Open 2014. We discussed her grappling background, where her MMA career is at right now, her future plans, the growing acceptance of LGBT athletes, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth. This invitational event will be held under catch wrestling rules, where you can only win by pin or submission. It will take place Saturday, June 7, in Collins Court in the John Wooden Center on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.
Labels: American Top Team, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Emi Fujino, grappling, Japan, Jessica Aguilar, jiu-jitsu, LGBT, MMA, No Holds Barred, World Series Fighting, WSOF
Saturday, June 01, 2013
No Holds Barred: Japanese Fighters Rise to Power at ONE FC in the Philippines
While five fighters from the Philippines were featured on this card, all of them suffered defeat. As it turned out, it was the Japanese fighters who stole the show, winning four of six bouts and two of the three title fights in which they competed.
In the main event, former King of Pancrase Koji Oishi of Japan scored a stunning one-punch, second-round knockout over Honorio Banario of the Philippines to capture the ONE FC featherweight title. In the co-main event, Bibiano Fernandes, originally from Brazil but now from the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada area, defeated Koetsu Okazaki of Japan by decision in a grueling five-round fight to win the vacant ONE FC bantamweight interim title.
Another local favorite from the Philippines, Kevin Belingon, lost by decision to Masakatsu Ueda of Japan in the final of the Bantamweight Grand Prix. Eduard Folayang, also from the Philippines, also lost by decision to MMA, grappling, and wrestling veteran Kamal Shalorus, originally from Iran but now based in the USA. Yasuhiro Urushitani of Japan won a close split decision over Rey Docyogen from the Philippines. American Andrew Leone outgrappled Geje Eustaquio, also from the Philippines, to win a decision. And karate champ Nobutatsu Suzuki from Japan knocked out American Phil Baroni in the first round.
On the undercard, the Lowen Tynanes of the USA continued his own rise to power, as he won by first-round referee stoppage over Felipe Enomoto from Japan. Yusup Saadulaev of Russia defeated Ryan Diaz of Canada with a first-round submission. And in a clash of American heavyweights, former King of the Cage champion Tony Johnson stopped former UFC champion Tim Sylvia by doctor's stoppage after elbow strikes on the ground opened up a huge cut near Sylvia's right eye.
The significance of this card, the fights themselves, and the many victories of these Japanese fighters as well as the losses of the fighters from the Philippines are discussed.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Bibiano Fernandes, Eddie Goldman, fighters, Honorio Banario, Japan, Japanese, Koetsu Okazaki, Koji Oishi, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Philippines, Rise to Power
Thursday, March 21, 2013
No Holds Barred: An Hour With Lenne Hardt
Living in Tokyo, and an announcer for many years with both the Pride and Dream MMA promotions, Lenne will be racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles as she heads to two shows in two different countries.
On Saturday, March 23, she will be plying her trade at the Glory 5 kickboxing show in London, England, headlined by the Remy Bonjasky-Tyrone Spong fight. This will be the first kickboxing card at which she is an announcer.
Then, on Friday, April 5, it's back to Asia for the ONE FC: KINGS AND CHAMPIONS MMA show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, headlined by ONE FC lightweight champion Kotetsu Boku defending his title against Shinya Aoki.
We spoke with Lenne Hardt by Skype Wednesday (Tuesday New York time) about these upcoming events.
Speaking about the tremendous growth of ONE FC, the largest MMA promotion in Asia, she said in this interview, "They are the new Pride. They're the new Dream."
We discussed how she approaches preparing for her role as an announcer, her careers as an announcer and as an entertainer, what she has learned about cultural differences between people around the world, how sport brings many diverse people together, a comparison of the outfits worn by ring girls in different eras and countries, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: announcer, announcing, Dream, Eddie Goldman, Glory, Japan, kickboxing, Lenne Hardt, MMA, No Holds Barred, One FC, Pride
Saturday, February 23, 2013
No Holds Barred: Amanda Lucas on Robot Combat League and DEEP
Besides mainly fighting in Japan and holding the women's open weight title in the DEEP promotion, Amanda Lucas is a robo-jockey on the first season of the Robot Combat League.
The Robot Combat League features 12 giant state-of-the-art robots engaged in a tournament where they fight each other. The robots are controlled by a human fighter known as a robo-jockey and an engineer known as a robo-tech. The first season of the Robot Combat League, which premieres Tuesday, February 26, on Syfy in the U.S., has already been filmed. There will be nine weekly episodes of the Robot Combat League for this debut season. Two of the 12 robo-jockeys, Andrew Montanez and Amanda Lucas, are professional MMA fighters.
We spoke with Amanda Lucas by phone Wednesday both about her participation in the Robot Combat League and about her MMA career.
Discussing the Robot Combat League, she said in this interview that this show is "like nothing that's ever been done. It was a really cool experience. You've got these giant metal machines that can really do some damage. There was this crazy level of excitement." She also explained, "We're the first people to ever do this. You're also working with a teammate who you just met," referring to the robo-tech.
We also discussed how this show will likely appeal both to combat sports fans and those who do not watch combat sports, to what degree robot fighting represents the future of combat sports, her experiences and plans for fighting again for DEEP in Japan, women's MMA in Japan and the U.S., and more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Amanda Lucas, DEEP, Eddie Goldman, fighting, Japan, MMA, No Holds Barred, Robot Combat League, Syfy
Sunday, December 30, 2012
No Holds Barred: Antonio McKee
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The 42-year-old McKee, whose only loss since 2003 was a highly controversial split decision in 2011 on a UFC show in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be returning to action New Year's Eve. He will face the submission master Shinya Aoki in a mixed martial arts fight on the Dream portion of the "GSI presents DREAM 18 and GLORY 4 Tokyo - New Year's Eve Special" event at Japan's Saitama Super Arena on Monday, December 31. Since McKee has a strong wrestling base, this fight with Aoki could see a lot of technical and entertaining grappling between two fighters with different styles.
"I think it's a great matchup," said Antonio McKee in this interview, which was recorded by phone Monday, December 17. "I think it's a dangerous matchup for Aoki, considering he's not a real threat on the feet, and we both kind of specialize on the ground. I'm more of the defense and he's more of an offense. So I think it's going to come down to conditioning and who has the heart to win. I really don't plan on it going to a decision."
We also discussed his support for the formation of a union for MMA fighters, the health problems which caused him to miss weight in his final fight in MFC, the need for fighters to be treated professionally, how long he plans to continue fighting, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City February 16 and 17, 2013, for the fourth annual MMA World Expo, featuring an amateur MMA tournament, grappling, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, February 16, and Sunday, February 17, 2013, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Antonio McKee, DREAM 18, Eddie Goldman, fighters union, Glory 4, Japan, MMA, No Holds Barred, Shinya Aoki, wrestling
Friday, October 26, 2012
No Holds Barred: Bas Boon on 'DREAM 18 - Special NYE 2012' Presented by Glory Sports International
It was announced at a press conference Thursday in Tokyo that Glory Sports International will be responsible for presenting 'DREAM 18 - Special NYE 2012', a New Year's Eve MMA mega-event at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31. The card will include ten MMA fights and three kickboxing matches. So far, three Japanese fighters have been confirmed for this event: the Dream featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya, the 'Crusher' Tatsuya Kawajiri, and the lightweight contender Satoru Kitaoka. Many more fighters on this card, including international fighters, will be announced in the coming weeks.
We spoke with Bas Boon about this historic event by Skype on Friday (Thursday night in New York). Of course, the issue of the problems which have caused the previous management of Dream not to run any more shows, such as fighters not getting paid, were among the first things we discussed.
"We cleaned up the mess," said Bas Boon in this interview. "The Dream brand is revived. The New Year's Eve show basically is going to take place under Dream 18. It is clean. There is a new management. Of course, we are going to use a lot of the old producers because the production of Dream was out of this planet, and that's certainly a thing we want to maintain."
We also discussed several other major kickboxing cards which Glory is putting on, including the Glory 3 Rome 'Final 8' (70 kilogram/154 pound) one-night tournament at the famed PalaLottomatica arena in Rome on November 3, and the Glory 4 Tokyo 'Heavyweight Grand Slam' 16-man one-night tournament at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Greater Tokyo, on December 2.
The revival of the popular New Year's Eve show in Japan featuring both MMA and kickboxing is already getting major attention around the world, as is the continuing expansion of Glory Sports International. "It's pretty intense," commented Bas Boon on all this activity, a fact which no doubt will please many fans of the combat sports.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 1 and 2 for the fourth annual MMA World Expo, featuring an amateur MMA tournament, the Big Apple BJJ Open, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The 2012 MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 1, and Sunday, December 2, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: Bas Boon, DREAM 18, Eddie Goldman, Glory, Japan, kickboxing, MMA, New Year's Eve, No Holds Barred
Thursday, February 02, 2012
No Holds Barred: Tadashi Tanaka on the Decline of MMA in Japan
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with our long-time colleague and friend, the Japanese mixed martial arts and puroresu (Japanese pro wrestling) journalist Tadashi Tanaka. He currently works for the Japanese web site Miruhon.net.
Tadashi Tanaka is the journalist who broke the story in 2006 in the Japanese magazine Shukan Gendai (Weekly Gendai) containing allegations that the Pride Fighting Championships, once the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world, was actually owned by the Yakuza, Japanese organized crime. Shortly after, and despite very high television ratings, Pride shows were dropped by Fuji TV, a major national broadcast network in Japan. Pride eventually went under, and its assets were later purchased by Zuffa, the parent company of UFC.
We spoke with Tadashi Tanaka Wednesday during his visit to New York at the Renzo Gracie Academy. We discussed the main reasons for the fall of Pride, why organizations like K-1 and Dream have also been in decline, the future of smaller Japanese MMA organizations, the prospects for the UFC in Japan, the growth of MMA elsewhere in Asia, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
DARE Championship. Based in Thailand, DARE is a mixed martial arts event where fighters from all over the world compete to become the DARE Champion. DARE is one of the first MMA promotions in Thailand, and has been televised in many countries and online. For more information, go to their web site, at DareFightSports.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
Labels: Asia, Dream, Eddie Goldman, Japan, K-1, MMA, No Holds Barred, Pride FC, Tadashi Tanaka, Yakuza
