Kakuda is making a comeback ( confirmed ).

[Cracked_Knuckle]

It seems Kakuda will be making his comeback to the ring, possibly as early as Jan or Feb next year.

There is even talk he may fight MMA rules against........Don Frye.

It is in Japanese, but here is the link if you want the source. http://www.sanspo.com/fight/top/f200411/f2004110303.html

[smacktime]

After seeing him fight against Musashi in LV (??) I am not really hanging to see this one!

[( o Y o )]

Understandable, but he does have some entertaining fights in his past.

He almost killed some Australian dude with one of the most brutal KO`s ever. KTFO Jo Son when they fought, and showed huge heart taking a massive pounding against Stan "The Man"

His fight against Musashi was perhaps his worst I think....and the speech was, well, my face goes red at the memory of it. He does have powerful hands though, and is stubborn as hell so I can see a MMA fight against a slowing Frye being pretty entertaining.

[El Presidente]

What's he gonna say after he wins? Is it gonna be the President's Speech from Independence Day... or something from Braveheart?

[( o Y o )]

What's he gonna say after he wins? Is it gonna be the President's Speech from Independence Day... or something from Braveheart?

Seeing as Frye is Mr. USA it will clearly be something from.......Predator.

Seriously though, this could get half interesting as he simply doesn`t give up, and we know the intensity Frye has.

And as a plus, this will happen in japan so he`ll not need to rip off any speech....from English movies anyway. lol

[Cracked_Knuckle]

Personally, I`m kind of looking forward to it.

I prefer him as a fighter than a ref anyway.

[Titan]

I'd love to see somebody beat on him, so in a way, I am looking forward to it. Don Frye in an MMA fight against Kakuda would really be fun to me after all the poor calls Kakuda has made as a ref. Don Frye as the equalizer. :-)

[smacktime]

Don Frye in an MMA fight against Kakuda would really be fun to me after all the poor calls Kakuda has made as a ref. Don Frye as the equalizer. :-)
:) Yeah, well i guess there could be a few guys, maybe even Hoost who might like to see him cop a few for some of his calls.

Oyo, I haven't seen any of his past fights to really make any judgement on his ability But if he has as much heart as everyone says he does then I guess it might make for a decent fight!

[KicknPunch]

If Kakuda makes his comeback for real, I just hope he is better at it than he is with some of the reffing skills he has shown lately.

[( o Y o )]

Oyo, I haven't seen any of his past fights to really make any judgement on his ability But if he has as much heart as everyone says he does then I guess it might make for a decent fight!

He has come out in the press a couple of times saying the Japanese fighters today show no heart....so has backed himself into a corner where he needs to take serious beatings without quiting or he`d look rather foolish. If you can find some of his old vids ( around 95 ) they are worth a look.

BTW.....pm will be returned in a bit.

[K1power]

Can anyone enlighten me what his speach after his fight with Musashi was about?

[K1power]

I like this guy. I must admit that I never saw him actually fight. But K-1 experience from fights and being a ref in numberous bouts along with his heart (everyone here mentions his heart so I believe you guys) would make for him to be a tough opponent who can always put up a good fight. Even though he's 43 and weighs in at about 193lbs (88kg). BTW anyone can hook me up with links to some of his fights would be really kind.

BTW Doesn't he look kinda cool in this pic? http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/Pictures/nobuakikakuda.jpg

[kentaro]

I have a fight of him vs. Joe Son lol.
But i wish him all the luck if he's making a comeback.

[Cracked_Knuckle]

I don't think this comeback is full time or anything. he'll probably have a K-1 fight, and then use his name to help promote ROMANEX events by competing in a couple of MMA fights..

Kakuda vs Bob Sapp :D

[Lennox]

I bet you anything, k1 will put him agaisnt Akeabono if he actully comes back. Is he a big name in Japan?

[smacktime]

I bet you anything, k1 will put him agaisnt Akeabono if he actully comes back. Is he a big name in Japan?

Kakuda Vs. Akebono is a MMA rules match. Now thats fair!

[Paul T]

I personally would not like to see him come out of retirement.
After seeing the Shellacking he took at the hands feet and knees of Musashi,
he certainly needs to remain retired. I personally thought he was done
when he fought under Knockdown rules against Kurosawa in a Superfight
in one of the first Pride FC shows. But he was better under K-1 rules.

Granted, he "Might" have an edge under MMA rules. But, i would prefer
for older fighters to be done. look at Holyfield in boxing. Maybe not a
fair comparison. but when you are over the hill, it is time to hang up the
gloves. No disrespect, but i would rather see him help train the next
generation of fighters, then get on the mats himself.

[( o Y o )]

Hey Paul, welcome aboard.

Whilst I agree with what you are saying, I see Kakuda coming back more as a sense of duty than having something to prove.

K-1 put all their eggs in one basket so to speak, and now they can no longer even find Sapp all of the time, added to the fact his mystic is largely lost, they need to do something to grab the ratings by the short and curlys once again.

Kakuda is quite popular and perhaps the most famous of the K-1 staff. He is on numerous TV programs here semi regularly, so will be a decent draw for them hyped the right way.

[Paul T]

Hi (OYO), thanks for the welcome!

I hear you loud and clear.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Kakuda.

I have tapes of him fighting in the mid-80s in Seido Kai Kan tournaments,
And he was a Nasty fighter under knockdown karate rules indeed. He would
turn his elbows toward opponents when they threw body punches and
let them punch the bony tips of his elbows to damage their hands. Nasty,
But quite effective under bare-knuckle rules.
In the early 90’s he was fighting Andy Hug.
Then he transitioned to Glove Fighting with the evolution of K-1.
He is Out–gunned and too small for most A level k-1 fighters of today
(Although I am sure he could still beat a few frreaks if he wanted too)

I have huge HUGE respect for him.

I just don’t think he should have to pay for all the management
Mistakes that K-1 may have been making the last couple years.

Anyone who was fighting competitively under any type of Full Contact
Rules for 20 years should be able to rest a little now. I would love to see
him teach The young guys how to do it. But seriously, isn’t there any up
and coming young talent to be developed in all of Japan?? Seriously.

Show him in the Dojo training twenty or thirty year-olds. Heck, show
him Kicking their behinds to get them ready for a match. Or if the
goal is the MMA rules, have him rolling on the mats teaching all the
Submissions and such. He could be grooming people, and they could use
His Image for all the hype. They could have him with a bunch of
Apprentice type people. Hell, do a stupid reality show about Kickboxers.
(It could be like WWE’s “Tough Enough”, with the exception = good)
But I don’t think that people over 40 should have to fight out of a sense
Of Duty. Maybe he cant give up the thrill if competing, but come on…

Have him take Masato under his wing and get him ready for his eventual
Re-match with Buakaw. Or he could provide tutelage for Fujimoto and
Get him out of his solid B- level fighting to be an A-Lister. Or he could
teach Kazuya Yasuhiro how to Fight under the K-1 MMA ROMANEX rules.
Or etc etc.

[( o Y o )]

I hear what you are saying about using his fame effectively, and in the process bringing up a new generation of fighters....by far the best long temr plan for K-1.

Unfortunately, in many cases it seems they`d prefer to go for the record numbers ( rating, $$$ etc ) each and every event so find themselves constantly needing to out-do themselves, and therefore, get the non-fan interested.

They succeded last year with Akebono.....a bigger success than I think anyone expected. They will do so again this year scoring Bobby`s fight. Both single successes with no real future....which is sadly what Kakuda will be...but to a lesser extent.

There was a mini scream here than his official retirement fight was not held in Japan, so there is some instant appeal there.....added to the fact Kakuda seems to have taken the role of "the man in charge of public satisfaction" as we have seen with his public apology and salary cut after the MAX tourny....and comments he made after the Montana Silva fight and the BEAST series in general.

Terrible thing for the individual.......more $$$ for the team.

[Paul T]

taking one for the team. okay, i understand that.

as long as there are no more retirment speaches
to an arena that is 90% empty and most everyone
who is there has no idea what he is talking about.

I wish him the best, and hope that he is succesful.