[quote]JohnnyNinja wrote:
A question for Otoko as well;
How do the Japanese fans view the tattoed non-Japanese fighters. I notice none of (that I have noticed) Japapense fighters are tattoed and I believe that culturally tattoos still hold a criminal / underground association. Does that play into the perception / acceptance of the non-Japanese fighters or is it over-looked, disregarded due to the sport in which they are competing. Or is my understandning of tattoo acceptance out-dated.
I am under the impression aside from the new youth movement tattoos in Japan are still hush-hush and not socially acceptable.
Sorry for the side bar, but with the prevelance of tattoos in combat sports it is something I’ve always wondered.
Thanks.[/quote]
I think they do not care because they are fighters.
I used to work for the company that runs all the Golds gyms in Japan. Golds gym in Japan have very little in commom with the American ones. They have a policy where you had to cover up your tattoos when working out. It is a common rule in many Japanese establishments, very old. I got alot of complaints over that. I do think that it isnt neccessary to hide your tattoos. You pretty much know who is Yakuza and who isnt, if you live here for a while anybody could figure it out.
The tattoo rule is too discourage Yakuza. They make a blanket policy, because Japanese cannot make exceptions. Very little common sense in Japan. And the rule doesnt work for its stated purpose. I remember seeing a guy working out with a long sleeve sweater, and he had no pinkies. Yak. I was impressed that he could lift weights with no pinkies.
[quote]Donut62 wrote:
otoko wrote:
Long-time lurker here. First post. I live in Japan, and in regards to Minowa, he has said he always wanted to fight Mirko. He has been saying this for the past few years. He thinks he has a way to beat him. He`s a little crazy, but a huge fan favorite of the Japanese.
Welcome! And I wish the best of luck to Minowa. My boy Mirko is in the shape of his life! Of course anything is possible, i.e. Randleman vs Mirko in 2004.[/quote]
Maybe Mirko will be laughing so hard that he slips and the ropes choke him.
Minowa thinks there is a Super Heaven above Heaven, and an Ultra-Heaven above Super-Heaven. I think Mirko will help him find out.
[quote]Cluster wrote:
Wait, so is Gardner in or out?
That looks like it will be a great card![/quote]
Gardner’s manager said there was never a deal, and he’s listed on his website as giving a speech at a seminar in Seattle on May 4. My guess is it never got beyond speculation.
[quote]Donut62 wrote:
We just need Nog’s opponent now. Maybe Arona?
[/quote]
Aren’t Minotauro and Arona both Top Team? That would smack of the possibility of Silva/Rua during the Middleweight GP that lead to the…suspicious…Silva/Arona match.
[quote]Cluster wrote:
Donut62 wrote:
We just need Nog’s opponent now. Maybe Arona?
Aren’t Minotauro and Arona both Top Team? That would smack of the possibility of Silva/Rua during the Middleweight GP that lead to the…suspicious…Silva/Arona match.
[/quote]
I haven’t heard that one before. Do you think that the Silva/Arona match result was suspicious? I thought Arona did enough to win.
I think it would be impossible to avoid teammate match-ups during a tournament, if they kept on winning.
I have been doing my homework about the UFC, going to the english-language sites.
I would have to get a region-free dvd player/or region 1(?) player to play UFC dvds.
Are their any specific UFCs that would be good to watch?
Also, there was a very long article a few months ago about Fedor in Number magazine(Japanese sports magazine). About his training and coaches. I have translated it into English. I think I will post it if members here are interested. It would give insight into Fedor. There seems to be a lack of information about Fedor on some English language MMA sights.
[quote]otoko wrote:
I have been doing my homework about the UFC, going to the english-language sites.
I would have to get a region-free dvd player/or region 1(?) player to play UFC dvds.
Are their any specific UFCs that would be good to watch?
Also, there was a very long article a few months ago about Fedor in Number magazine(Japanese sports magazine). About his training and coaches. I have translated it into English. I think I will post it if members here are interested. It would give insight into Fedor. There seems to be a lack of information about Fedor on some English language MMA sights.
[/quote]
Please post the Fedor interview, UFC 43 was very good.
[quote]Bram Wiley wrote:
otoko wrote:
I have been doing my homework about the UFC, going to the english-language sites.
I would have to get a region-free dvd player/or region 1(?) player to play UFC dvds.
Are their any specific UFCs that would be good to watch?
Also, there was a very long article a few months ago about Fedor in Number magazine(Japanese sports magazine). About his training and coaches. I have translated it into English. I think I will post it if members here are interested. It would give insight into Fedor. There seems to be a lack of information about Fedor on some English language MMA sights.
Please post the Fedor interview, UFC 43 was very good. [/quote]
Sherdog says Silva is out. I guess he didn’t get injured against HW’s without a significant pay increase. This OWGP has become a HW Grand Prix with Minowa. Oh well, the concept was a little overeaching.
Please post the Fedor interview. He is a very interesting man.
[quote]otoko wrote:
I haven’t heard that one before. Do you think that the Silva/Arona match result was suspicious? I thought Arona did enough to win.
I think it would be impossible to avoid teammate match-ups during a tournament, if they kept on winning.[/quote]
I haven’t seen that particular match, but supposedly there’s an intereview out there where Silva is asked, “What happens if you and Rua end up in the finals?” and Silva responds, “we know whose going to win.”
[I should note that I’ve seen this interview referenced, but not seen the interview, which hopefully means it’s just been repeated again and again until people think it’s the truth]
Then, many think that Silva’s lackluster appearance against Arona that night, combined with the above quote (or at least my memory of it) meant he was getting ready to step aside for the younger guy.
That’s all speculation though and I just figured that Silva meant “We all know I’m better than Rua and will win by KTFO.”
However, the nonsense with the dog and Rua’s inexplicable move up to HW do seem consisent with the conspiracy theory…
But Silva’s definitely got a lot of pride (heh) and from what I know of him, that would be totally out of character, so I doubt it’s the case. But, a intraclub matchup would certainly get the wags going, no matter the result.
Ok so Zulu(the 400 pounder from brazil) is now figthing Big Nog. Rulon Gardner will be doing some seminars across the states during the same week and cant fight since his manager already confirmed his presence there.
Zulu vs Nog is good for two reasons:
It could turn into Big Nog vs Bob Sapp II. If you didnt see that fight get it, it was a treat to watch.
This becomes more legit as an open weight event. Zulu is super heavy weight, while Nijishima and Minowa are middle weights at best. 3 out of the confirmed 12 not being HW is a good sign.
[quote]Cluster wrote:
otoko wrote:
I haven’t heard that one before. Do you think that the Silva/Arona match result was suspicious? I thought Arona did enough to win.
I think it would be impossible to avoid teammate match-ups during a tournament, if they kept on winning.
I haven’t seen that particular match, but supposedly there’s an intereview out there where Silva is asked, “What happens if you and Rua end up in the finals?” and Silva responds, “we know whose going to win.”
[I should note that I’ve seen this interview referenced, but not seen the interview, which hopefully means it’s just been repeated again and again until people think it’s the truth]
Then, many think that Silva’s lackluster appearance against Arona that night, combined with the above quote (or at least my memory of it) meant he was getting ready to step aside for the younger guy.
That’s all speculation though and I just figured that Silva meant “We all know I’m better than Rua and will win by KTFO.”
However, the nonsense with the dog and Rua’s inexplicable move up to HW do seem consisent with the conspiracy theory…
But Silva’s definitely got a lot of pride (heh) and from what I know of him, that would be totally out of character, so I doubt it’s the case. But, a intraclub matchup would certainly get the wags going, no matter the result.
[/quote]
Yeah I think that is just speculation. We should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Shugun moving up to HVWT though maybe was decided as a team. Of course I don’t know. But Ninja moved down to WW. So if everything went to plan they would have a Chute Boxe fighter champion of the WW, MW and HVWT divisions. I think that would make them very happy.
I read something online, I think on the MMA.tv forum, that Silva has said on his website that he is actually without a contract, with anyone at this point, at this point and is technically unemployed.