Another 'fight' added to Otoko Matsuri

[FieldingMellish]

Ryan Gracie v. Yoji Anjoh

I say 'fight' because this has the potential to be an absolute massacre. If Gracie is in any kind of shape then poor old Anjoh's going to get a pasting like the one Rickson Gracie gave him a few years when he tried his grandstand challenge. This could get very, very ugly.

Source: Sportsnavi.

[RedHawk]

I'm at a loss. I've never heard of him. I tried checking Rickson's record in the fightfinder, but still didn't see Yoji Anjoh's name there.


Win Masakatsu Funaki TKO (Rear Naked Choke)
Win Nobuhiko Takada Submission (Armbar)
Win Nobuhiko Takada Submission (Armbar)
Win Yuki Nakai Submission (Choke)
Win Koichiro Kimura Submission (Choke)
Win Yoshihisa Yamamoto Submission (Choke)
Win Bud Smith Submission
Win David Levicki Submission
Win Yoshinori Nishi Submission (Choke)
Win Rei Zulu


Rickson has a submission in over Masakatsu Funaki?


People say alot of stuff about Rickson. But a RNC win over Funaki is very respectable.

[( o Y o )]

People say alot of stuff about Rickson. But a RNC win over Funaki is very respectable.

A RNC over a "in condition, peak" funaki is extremely good. Funaki`s best days were well behind him though.

[RedHawk]

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/headlines/images/20041217/20041217-00000038-spnavi-spo-view-000.jpg



I found this pic of Yoji Anjoh.

[RedHawk]

A RNC over a "in condition, peak" funaki is extremely good. Funaki`s best days were well behind him though.


edit: I just checked again and the fight between Rickson and Funaki was the last time either of them have fought. What a career Funaki had. The fighters he has faced (and beaten) are a who's who in the MMA world.

[( o Y o )]

Yes, that was one of Funaki's last fights. But on the other hand, it was also one of Rickson's last fights. ;)

Was Funaki`s final fight ever I believe, and he makes no excuse at all for the loss. He retired right after it.

Comparing their real careers, I think it is more than understandable though to understand just how beat up Funaki`s body was. 50+ fights, nearly all against "names." It is sad he doesn`t get the credibility he deserves and seens to be remembered for losing that fight more than any of his other accomplishments.

[FieldingMellish]

RedHawk:

Glad you posted the picture, I wanted to but my silly work PC didn't want me to.Anjoh looks either drunk, in desparate need of a toilet or just plain terrified.

You may not be able to find a record of Anjoh because I've sen about 7 different ways of spelling his name.As for his past, he's lost to Tank Abbott and Murilo Bustamante and I don't think he's ever won a legitimiate fight. He started out as a shoot style pro wrestler with the UWF and went to the UWF-I where he was a mid-card guy while Nobuhiko Takada was a headliner.

The Rickson story is that as the Gracie name became huge in Japan the UWF-I, who pretended their realistic style of pro wrestling were actually real fights, sent Anjoh to California to issue a challenge to Rickson. Well, Anjoh being Anjoh, he was really dissing the Gracies, UFC and BJJ in the Japanese press and took a posse of reporters with him to Rickson's dojo. He then made a big show of calling Rickson (who wasn't there) out. Somebody called Rickson and he came down, fists all taped up, and proceeded the beat the living shit out of Anjoh before choking him unconscious. The UWF-I started losing its popularity after that (not saying that's the main reason but it likely contributed) as its fans expected Takada to get revenge and redeem his company. Takada wanted no part of it though, until a few years later when he got a major payday to fight Rickson in Pride.

[RedHawk]

ooops a little too late, for my edit. hehehe


Anyway, I hear alot of folks bitching about this fight. Saying stuff like "now the card has turned to shit". Can you believe those people?


You just can't please these spoiled fans.

[FieldingMellish]

Was Funaki`s final fight ever I believe, and he makes no excuse at all for the loss. He retired right after it.

Comparing their real careers, I think it is more than understandable though to understand just how beat up Funaki`s body was. 50+ fights, nearly all against "names." It is sad he doesn`t get the credibility he deserves and seens to be remembered for losing that fight more than any of his other accomplishments.

Absolutely. Funaki is a genuine legend. I was always a Suzuki fan though.

How badly did you think it hurt Funaki's career that Pancrase switched from the open handed strikes to punches? He just never seemed to have the necessary mean streak and never did particularly well in 'full rules.' I think that, combined with all the injuries, the Rickson loss and many people's ignorance of Pancrase and the history of MMA all means he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

He is making a comeback though. Well, going back to his roots at least. He's apparently doing some puroresu pretty soon. Don't have allt he details at hand but will find and post them if anyone is interested.

[RedHawk]

FieldingMellishAnjoh looks either drunk, in desparate need of a toilet or just plain terrified.


I was thinking the same thing. His eyes are very red. I have a feeling that he has a drinking problem.


Somebody called Rickson and he came down, fists all taped up, and proceeded the beat the living shit out of Anjoh before choking him unconscious.


Holy shit! Thanks for sharing that story. I'd never heard that before.

[FieldingMellish]

ooops a little too late, for my edit. hehehe


Anyway, I hear alot of folks bitching about this fight. Saying stuff like "now the card has turned to shit". Can you believe those people?


You just can't please these spoiled fans.

I love the way they seem to think a few novelty or uneven fights, or even God forbid fights they aren't personally interested in somehow detracts from matches like Kondo-Henderson, Noguiera-Fedor, Pulver-Gomi or the REAL main Silva-Mu Bae (LOL).

[( o Y o )]

Anyway, I hear alot of folks bitching about this fight. Saying stuff like "now the card has turned to shit". Can you believe those people?


You just can't please these spoiled fans.

through posting on forums I have come to the conclusion, most people choose to be stupid, or at least seem to enjoy making themselves appear that way.

How many fights are there now? 9? 10? With at least another 1 or 2 being set up now. And out of that there are maybe 2 or 3 that are more entertainment than "fights" and that makes the remaining 8 or 9 screamers suddenly turn to shit?

You`d never think a sport with such a macho image would be predominately full of fans that do so little other than bitch.

[FieldingMellish]

Holy shit! Thanks for sharing that story. I'd never heard that before.

I originally read it years ago in the Wrestling Observer newsletter and I think it was also in Clyde Gentry's book 'No Holds Barred: Evolution'. I really can't recommend it highly enough, it's one of the best sports books I've ever read (and I read alot). It basically covers the evolution of the sport from 1993 to about 1997 and has loads of fascinating stories in there. I've heard he's working on a sequel and I can't wait.

[( o Y o )]

How badly did you think it hurt Funaki's career that Pancrase switched from the open handed strikes to punches? He just never seemed to have the necessary mean streak and never did particularly well in 'full rules.' I think that, combined with all the injuries, the Rickson loss and many people's ignorance of Pancrase and the history of MMA all means he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

While I agree with all the points you have made, I think the final one is the single most significant.

"UFC gave birth to MMA, and don`t let anyone tell you differently. They were the first, they are the only legit org" seems to be an opinion all too many have.

[FieldingMellish]

While I agree with all the points you have made, I think the final one is the single most significant.

"UFC gave birth to MMA, and don`t let anyone tell you differently. They were the first, they are the only legit org" seems to be an opinion all too many have.

Too true, sadly. Can you imagine how they'd react if they really knew and accepted the truth, that without the pro wrestling they hate so much there would be no MMA, particularly in Japan?

[( o Y o )]

This the book?

http://images-jp.amazon.com/images/P/1903854105.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg ????

I feel a book review may be in order ;-) lol

[FieldingMellish]

That's the one, never seen that cover though. Mine has Royce Gracie armbarring Jason DeLucia.

A review might be a good idea. Wonder who you could get to do it?

[( o Y o )]

Too true, sadly. Can you imagine how they'd react if they really knew and accepted the truth, that without the pro wrestling they hate so much there would be no MMA, particularly in Japan?

Tell me about it.

I had 3/4 of the members at another site abuse me when I answered the question "Who is the most influential person in MMA" with the answer that "a good arguement could actually be made for Takada"

I assume no one could open their eyes and see past the patented buttscoot.

[( o Y o )]

That's the one, never seen that cover though. Mine has Royce Gracie armbarring Jason DeLucia.

I assume it is a UK book? Amazon Japan has two versions of it both from the UK, both taking 6 weeks approx. to deliver. I might keep looking for somewhere quicker.


A review might be a good idea. Wonder who you could get to do it?

**Wondering to myself....who do I know that has read this book???**

Not sure mate, any ideas?? LOL

[FieldingMellish]

**Wondering to myself....who do I know that has read this book???**

Not sure mate, any ideas?? LOL

Why it's obvious. My mate Roger. He's read it. Though he hasn't written anything more demanding than a text message since college. LOL.

We'll just have to see.....

[FieldingMellish]

I assume it is a UK book? Amazon Japan has two versions of it both from the UK, both taking 6 weeks approx. to deliver. I might keep looking for somewhere quicker.

It was originally released in the US. There is a UK version that has a different structure, packaging etc. and an extra chapter on the European MMA scene that has a classic Bas Rutten drinking story in it.

[( o Y o )]

Ah.....I think I know which one I want then.

Bas stories are always cool! lol

[( o Y o )]

looks like he is crying almost....

http://www.prideofficial.com/free/news/img/photo_b/1103285128.jpg

[Jules]

Revenge on the GRACIES??

Damned, how only is this guy? Why doesn`t Ryan ever fight any good upcoming fighters like Chonana anyway? THATS what I want to see. Or Ryan vs Nakamura.

Did they give him this guy so he can look exciting before a possible match up with Nakamura? One can hope I guess, as if I remember correctly Ryans last two Bushido fights he spent something like 11 minutes clinging to the backs of his opponents doing little. Build him up a little so he looks like a better sclp for one of the younger japanese fighters perhaps.

[FieldingMellish]

I think they're really trying to put on a fight that has a strong storyline to stir some interest. Anjoh's past encounters with the family give this fight that storyline aspect. And an easy, brutal win for Ryan too.

Sometimes I really hate Pride's matchmaking because they book such dangerous mismatches. One of these days this is going to backfire hideously and we'll see someone seriously injured. I think this is probably the worst thing they've done since the Goodridge-Yatsu matches (not as criminal as that was but it is approaching that level).

I really fear for Anjoh in this fight and since I used to love watching the UWF-I it's really sad seeing some of those guys getting wasted when they're too old, broken down and simply incapable of keeping up with younger, fitter (well Ryan may not be fitter if he takes his training as lightly as he seemed to for the Minowa fight) opponents.

[-=[DM]=-]

sure it's a mismatch but not Ryan isn't as destructive as Goodridge. In his last "win" against minowa he didn't do much damage.

I agree with everyone, time to match up ryan gracie with rampage or wanderlei silva, lol, for a non-title fight of course ;)

[FieldingMellish]

The problem is that Anjoh is about 3% as good a fighter as Minowa. He's old, out of shape, and judging by photos, isn't exactly healthy.

and I'd love to see Ryan fight Wanderlei or Quinton. But thats because I really don't like Ryan and want to see him take a serious pasting.

[-=[DM]=-]

and I'd love to see Ryan fight Wanderlei or Quinton. But thats because I really don't like Ryan and want to see him take a serious pasting.

yeah same here, he certainly doesn't deserve it. It's really time for him to step up and face some serious competition.