After Japan's Satoshi Ishii won the gold medal in heavyweight judo this week, he made a bold statement: Ishii said he wants to fight the top heavyweight in mixed martial arts, Fedor Emelianenko. Dave Meltzer reports that Ishii is a national hero in Japan, and that if he did fight Fedor, it would probably be a bigger draw in that country than an experienced, legitimate MMA heavyweight taking on Fedor would be.
Fedor is currently sidelined after breaking a bone in his hand while punching the daylights out of Tim Sylvia, but he has said he expects to be ready to participate in his annual New Year's Eve fight in Japan. So could Ishii be his opponent?
It sounds like a long shot, but not totally out of the question. There's no such thing as professional judo, and if Ishii wants to make a living off his skills, MMA might be the best bet. I'd prefer to see Fedor fight an experienced MMA heavyweight, but if Ishii is his next opponent, I'll be watching.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-21-2008 @ 7:43PM
Loren said...
Apparently, Gold is intoxicating, at least for Satohi Ishii. Fedor Emelianenko, however, is the perfect antidote for Ishii's stupor. A pounding by Fedor will help Satohi "sober up."
Ishii doesn't deserve to "go to the front of the line." To be a top MMA fighter, one must be skilled and proven in many facets of fighting - something that Ishii has yet to do.
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8-21-2008 @ 9:21PM
some dewd said...
I hope Ishii can strike, Fedor is very difficult to take down and his striking is second to none in power and speed. And his
ground game is unreal. He lost once in his career and only
from a Cut over his eye. If he wants to make a career out of this then i wouldn't start it by fighting the greatest MMA fighter ever... he will have a short career.
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8-22-2008 @ 12:10AM
Chris Quilisch said...
I've been a mixed martial artist for some time and seen many bogus styles and dojos. I've also seen undefeated submission experts(Gokor) and martial artists masters (Marcus Bossett UFC IV, V, XII) denied access to current UFC, IFL, etc. for political reasons. Many current MMA guys just wouldn't compare to career martial artists. Now Fedor is a Bad-Ass - no doubt - but hitting a tire with a sledge hammer for training doesn't compare to the training riggors of a "true" Judo expert. Keep in mind that true Judo is far beyond the capabilities of most people and likely not found in America. Japanese Judo in the hands of a skilled master is devastating.
Satohi Ishii is a TRUE Judo expert in his prime. He absolutely ready to submit Fedor Emelianenko.
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8-22-2008 @ 1:47PM
kusok said...
Fedor is a World Class Judoka himself, having won National and European Judo titles. His training partner 3-time World Judo Champion Aleksander Mikhailin stated that Fedor is his equal in Judo. fedor is also a 4-time World Combat Sambo Champion (similar to Judo)
8-22-2008 @ 5:46PM
Joe said...
Silly...absolutely silly. I've been in mixed martial arts for over a decade. Seen a lot. Fedor wins by whatever he wants. End of Story.
8-22-2008 @ 6:30PM
super_orr said...
You're insane if you think that Satoshi has a chance in hell. Hitting a tire with a sledgehammer for training? The guy is the world combat sambo champion, like 6 years running, you want to talk about career martial artists.
8-22-2008 @ 1:09AM
frank said...
Until he gets hit in the face, with sledghammer fists, he can attempt anything he wants.
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8-23-2008 @ 9:12PM
Big Mike said...
Chris Quilisch, that is the most insane thing that I've ever heard in my life. Fedor would womp you, Satoshi, AND his whole family at the same time. No exaggeration either.
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8-24-2008 @ 4:09AM
nrwgn said...
Fedor by armbar!
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8-27-2008 @ 8:43PM
atn said...
Chris Quilisch, your comments are both uninformed and false.
You're distinction between 'professionnal matrial artists' and mixed martial artists is ridiculous and borderline elitist.
You obviously know very little about MMA. World class judokas (from Japan) have competed against MMA artists and have lost. See for example, Josh Barnett vs. Hidehiko Yoshida or Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Cro Cop. Yoshida won Gold in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, is a Wold Champion (1999), etc.
Maybe you know about the training of Judokas, but don't even pretend you know the training Fedor or any other MMA fighter goes through (seeing a video on youtube of Fedor hitting a tire doesn't count).
Do your research before talking crap.
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10-30-2008 @ 11:16AM
Eric said...
Somebody needs to inform this guy that Fedor is a Judo and Sambo friggin master!!
I bet Ishii plans on fighting in MMA with a gi ... well, at least he will have something to wipe the blood out of his eyes when he fights Fedor!
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