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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2006
Grappler's Quest Hawaii
(Submission Grappling)
(TBA)
2005
11/19/05
ROTR 9
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
11/14/05
3rd American National BJJ Championships
(Torrance Unified School District, Torrance, CA )
11/12/05
Full Contact
Showdown
Super
Brawl Qualifer
(MMA)
(Kahuna Bar & Grill, Kaneohe Marine Corps Base)
Aloha
State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship
(BJJ/Grappling)
(Saint Louis School Gym)
11/5/05
ROTR: Proving Grounds
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center)
10/29-30/05
Brazilian Team Titles
(Equipes)
(Brazil)
10/28/05
Icon Sport 43
(formally Superbrawl)
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
10/15/05
Gracie Nationals
(BJJ/Grappling)
(Columbus, Ohio)
10/11/05
Tuesday Night Fights
(Kickboxing)
(Central Pacific Athletics, Hilo)
10/7/05
UFC 55: Fury
(PPV)
ROTR: Proving Grounds
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center, Maui)
Fight Night At The “O”
(MMA)
(O-Lounge, Ala Moana Shopping Center)
9/24/05
NAGA 2005 Hawaiian State
Championships
(Submission Grappling & BJJ)
(CANCELLED,
POSSIBLY TO BE HELD IN FEBRUARY)
2005
American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship
(BJJ)
(Torrance, CA)
9/17/05
Rumble
On The Rock 8
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
So You Think You Tough
(MMA)
(Kona Gym, Kona)
|
|
September 2005 News
Part 1
Wednesday
night and Sunday classes (w/ a kids' class) now offered!
 
For the special Onzuka.com
price, click on one of these banners above! |
Quote
of the Day
"When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a
loaf of bread with one,
and a lily with the other."
Chinese Proverb
|
WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING TONIGHT
Saturday,
Sept. 10 at 9:45pm ET/6:45pm PT
The lighter weight classes dominate the night when ERIK MORALES
VS. ZAHIR RAHEEM and MANNY PACQUIAO VS. HECTOR VELAZQUEZ is presented
live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, exclusively on HBO.
Source:
HBO
|
Fight
Night At The “O”
A
new amateur MMA event is starting up and will take place at the
O-Lounge, the night club connected to Ala Moana Shopping Center.
The inaugural event is tentatively scheduled for Friday, October
7, 2005. The promoter is hoping to run monthly events, depending
on the availability of fighters.
The
promoter is currently looking for fighters that have minimal
experience and are looking for a smaller event to gain experience
and their start in MMA against an evenly matched opponent. More
information will be out shortly.
Source:
Mike Miller
|
ST-PIERRE
VS. SHERK POSSIBILITY
Sources in Vegas and Iowa are saying that the matchup of Georges
St-Pierre vs. Sean Sherk may possibly take place on the UFC 55
card on October 7th.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
Pitbull
and Pega-Leve fight at UFC
Spike TV, the cable channel which airs The Ultimate Fighter has
been joining Ultimate Fighting Championship producers to organize
a MMA event. According to a note posted by our friends from MMAWeekly.com,
the first show of this new partnership would take place on October
3. The event does not have a name yet, but card has been released.
Two Brazilians rooted in US are confirmed: Thiago Pitbull and
Fabiano Pega-Leve, both from American Top Team.
COMPLETE
CARD (subject to change):
-
Evan Tanner vs. David Loiseau;
-
Stephan Bonnar vs. James Irvin;
-
Josh Koscheck vs. Drew Fickett;
-
Chris Leben vs. Edwin Dewees;
-
Thiago Pitbull vs. Spencer Fisher;
-
Brandon Vera vs. Fabiano Pega-Leve;
-
Brock Larson vs. John Fitch;
-
Pierre Guillet vs. TBA
Source:
Tatame
|
PISHNA'S
POUND 4 POUND: SEPTEMBER 2005
by Ken Pishna
Aah,
the mythical MMA Pound 4 Pound title. It’s long been the
topic of heated debate; especially since weight classes were
added. Does the title mean anything really? No, there is no pound
for pound weight class… well, expect for the one that BJ
Penn seems to be attempting to forge for himself. In reality,
this mythical ranking is just that, as well as a self-indulgent
bit of fodder for those of us that consider ourselves the MMA
hardcores.
With
that said, let the indulgence begin… here are my self-important
top Pound 4 Pound fighters in the world:
1) Fedor Emelianenko (22-1-0-1)
Fedor has been at the top of my Pound 4 Pound ranking for some
time now and quite deservedly so. It’s difficult to argue
against a 22-1-0-1 record; especially when that one loss was
nearly five years ago. Pride is often accused of feeding tomato
cans to build a fighter’s record, but that can’t be
farther from the truth with Fedor. Amongst his victories are
Ricardo Arona, Kevin Randleman, Gary Goodridge, Semmy Schilt,
Heath Herring, Mark Coleman, Antonio Nogueira (twice), and most
recently Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. If that isn’t
a who’s who list, then there isn’t one.
It
has often been said that styles make fights, but in today’s
MMA, the best of the best adapt their game to counter the style
of their opponent and Fedor is the master. He stymied Nogueira’s
submissions with a brutal ground and pound attack in their first
meeting and when Nog went to work on his striking game, Fedor
outboxed him. Amazingly against Cro Cop, Fedor morphed once again.
This time providing the ultimate defense against the uber-striker
and then outstriking him later in the fight. The question now
is: man or machine? The answer is obviously machine.
2) Matt Hughes (36-4)
With a career that has been nothing short of legendary since
he entered the UFC, Matt Hughes has steadily earned his climb
as one of the top Pound 4 Pound fighters in the world. In his
40 bouts, he has only lost to Dennis Hallman (twice), Jose Pele
Landi-Jons, and BJ Penn. But I think what really solidifies his
ranking to me is the heart that he has shown, time and again.
His slam-knockout of Carlos Newton as he was being choked unconscious,
his arm bar of rising star Georges St. Pierre, and most amazingly
his comeback after being knocked silly in his last bout with
Frank Trigg; the latter of which I rank as one of the greatest
comebacks in MMA history, if not sports history.
His
strengths and weaknesses as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter can
be argued to world’s end for all I care, but I doubt anyone
can mount much of a worthy denial of his place in the P4P rankings
3) Chuck Liddell (17-3)
Yeah, the Iceman lost 2 out of 3 fights in 2003, but those two
opponents were Randy Couture and Quinton “Rampage”
Jackson, arguably at their most recent peaks in performance.
Consider this, in his last eight bouts - including those against
Couture and Jackson - Liddell is 6-2 with all six wins by knockout.
That is pretty impressive for anyone, but especially considering
the opposition that he has faced. Those wins included Babalu
Sobral, Alistair Overeem, Tito Ortiz, Vernon “Tiger”
White, and avenging losses to both Couture and most recently,
Jeremy Horn.
Liddell’s
last two victories were particularly impressive. Against Couture,
he showed how he could adapt his game to overcome the strengths
that Couture displayed in their first fight. In his revenge on
Horn, Liddell displayed a level of maturity we’ve not seen
in him before as he never rushed the pace of the fight and avoided
any opportunity for Horn to work his game plan.
4) Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (25-3-1)
Nogueira just can’t seem to get over the Fedor hurdle, but
that is about his only stumbling block in recent years. Prior
to his run-ins with the current Pride Heavyweight Champion (Nog
was the first), the only blemish on Nog’s record was a split
decision loss to Dan Henderson in 2000, which he avenged by submission
in 2002. In fact, both of his losses to Fedor were also by decision.
Nogueira has never been finished in a fight.
Outside
of his troubles with Fedor, he has racked up victories over Sergei
Kharitonov, Heath Herring (twice), Cro Cop, Bob Sapp, Semmy Schilt,
and more. Nogueira is one of the slickest submission fighters
in the heavyweight division and has honed his striking game to
a fine edge as well. Outside of Fedor, it’s hard to argue
that he stands at the top of the heavyweights.
5) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (9-2-1)
After his performance in this year’s Pride Grand Prix, how
can Shogun not be in the top five? Since his loss to Babalu in
the IFC Light Heavyweight tournament two years ago, he has rattled
off eight consecutive victories with seven of them by knockout.
Prior
to the Grand Prix, Shogun was maybe working in the direction
of the P4P list, but knocking off Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, and Ricardo Arona inside of four
months propelled him into the rankings without denial.
KNOCKING
ON THE DOOR:
Rich Franklin, Yves Edwards, Takanori Gomi, and Wanderlei Silva.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Contusions
spoil Nova União Team
Two contusions bothered Nova União's plans during the
upcoming Shooto show, which takes place on September 23. Róbson
Moura would fight for the Bantamweight title against Japanese
Mamoru, but due to a knee injure he will be out of it. "Robinho
got his knee hurt and he doesn't know if he is going to do a
surgery. The big problem is second place will fight for the title
against Mamoru and Robinho will have to wait for a year to fight
for it again," Dedé Pederneiras (Nova União)
lamented.
Other
Nova União fighter out of the competition is Featherweight
Marcos Louro. Due to the champion contusion, Loro will have to
wait his recovery. Meanwhile, Nova União fighter gets
on Japanese Akitoshi Hokazono on September 23. "Loro should
be fighting for this belt a while ago. Now he still needs to
wait for his opponent to fight him," explains Dedé,
who travels to Japan with him.
Source:
Tatame
|
ENSON SPEAKS: PART 2
Part 2 of the 2-part interview
by Hody Jae Huh
Interviewer:
What is the meaning of Yamato Damashii to you?
Enson:
A lot of people come up to me and say that they don't understand
how I don't tap when I hear my arm popping and everything but...
that's a whole other episode to me. You might think... any person
or fighter that watches a fight might think that this guys has
him in an armlock and he feels that his tendon is going break,
or his arm is going to break. Any normal person... there will
be two options that come into their head.
Your
whole life is about options. You're driving a car and a person
jumps in front of you. You either hit the car or turn and hit
the wall. You know what I mean? There's always an option. When
you're getting your arm broke or when a fighter is in any critical
type of situation in a fight, there's also options. The only
reason why I move the way I do is because of the way I think.
It's not because of what I chose in my options. The way I think
will control the outcome of what my options will be.
For
example, a normal fighter or any person on the street who had
never fought before gets in an armlock. Two options will pop
into their head because they live their life as a normal person.
Fighters train hard, fighters experience fear... the point of
falling down because they cannot train, the point of sparring
when they think they might die. But a lot of fighters don't take
it in the right way, don't take it and absorb. They become a
regular person. So when they're in the fight and they're getting
their arm locked and it's starting to pop, they'll think like
a normal person. What a normal person's options probably will
be, your arm is going to break or you're going to tap. There's
two ways, there's only two things.
But
for me, I've been raised the Yamato Damashii way, where you give
everything you've got until the very end. The only time you know
you couldn't do it is because you ran out of money; you couldn't
do it because you're out of any more options. Basically, when
I'm getting in an armbar and my arm is folded backwards - that's
another story. But if I can't even hear my arm pop two options
will come to my mind -- your arms going to break or get the fuck
out of it. That's it.
Everyone
says Enson equals Yamato Damashii. Enson's so tough, so brave,
a warrior. You know what I mean? I become a warrior not because
of what I do in every situation as it comes, I become a warrior
because of the way I live my life. The reason why those two options
are different is because when I live my life, whether it's fighting
or it's my arm breaking or working whenever I'm in the gym, or
working on business somewhere else with another group - I'm giving
all I got until the very end. I'll try to negotiate a business
deal until I cannot do anymore. Until I absolutely cannot do
anymore, and then I'll quit. I don't think I'll quit, actually
I'll just let the situation die. I will not ever quit in a situation.
So the same thing, you know?
It
pops into my head, get out or get your arm broke. I don't want
my arm broke so I'm going to get out. As I'm getting out, I'm
never going to know when my arm breaks. I don't ever want to
wonder what would have happened if I didn't tap. If I could have
gotten out, or if my opponent would have given up and moved to
another hold. God only knows when my arm breaks. It's like when
you go to sleep when you get choked. Only God knows when you
go to sleep from a choke. Who am I to decide and play God and
decide when my arm is going to break or I go unconscious? All
these people come and pay millions of dollars to watch the fights.
I get paid 6 figures to fight. I'm there to entertain, give 110%,
and leave everything in the ring. That's all I do.
You're
going to pay that much money to see me fight. A promoter is going
to pay that much money, they're going to kiss my ass, they're
going to bring two cornermen, put us up in hotels, give us food
money, put us on TV, and put us in magazines. All these people.
People are going to come watch us and cry at some of our fights.
There are a lot of people who cry when I walk to the ring. I
mean, it’s that big of a thing. So you're going
to play God and decide when to tap? There's a referee, ring doctors,
and your cornermen. Trust them and concentrate on just putting
it on the line.
I've
never seen a fighter, except Renzo Gracie, where his arm broke
and then realized he was beat. 99.9% of the fighters will give
up before their arm breaks. 99% of the fighters will give up
before they go to sleep. Why? Because they're anticipating the
outcome, they're anticipating the fear. They're assuming that
their arm is going to break and instead of doing that, why don't
you assume that you're going to get out? The thinking is really
different. It all depends on what your mind is focusing on. I'm
focusing on finishing an opponent. If he hits me hard enough
to wobble me, I'm focusing enough I hit him right back with the
same kind of punch.
This
guy gets me in an armlock and I can hear the ligaments pop, on
hearing that I'm thinking -- That mother fucker! Before he breaks
it, I'm going to hit him right back with a punch, just as bad.
You know what I mean? It depends on what you're focusing on.
If I'm focusing on the penalties of failure when my arm is going
to break... I'm going to sleep and I don't know when I'm going
to wake up - I'm going to tap because I'm going to be scared.
But that's not what my fear is going to do. My fear is going
to make me stronger. My fear is going to make me want to get
out before he breaks my arm. My fear is going to give me adrenaline
to punch, even if I am so tired.
I
was brought up on a situation when I was a kid where this philosopher
came and talked to me. I always went to sports psychology for
racquetball. This guy told me this situation, which is an exact
situation where your arm is going to break - if you're going
to focus on the penalties of failure or the benefits to success.
Benefits of success meaning, getting my arm out and stomping
on his face or something. Penalties of failure, not tapping and
having my arm broke. Which one you're going to focus on, is what
you chose.
Say
if I were to tell you, a 2 X 4 about a width, a foot long...
say 20 yards long, a plank. And what I do with the plank is I
put it on the mat, this soft mat right here. The same kind of
mat you can find probably in most MMA and BJJ schools. And put
$1,000.00 on one end and tell you, you walk from one end to the
other without touching the mat, a foot long, that's pretty long,
you can keep the $1,000.00. What would you do? You're going to
go "shit", and get the $1,000.00 and walk back and
you're done. Now what if I were to do this, the same $1,000.00,
the same plank but I stretch it across to the other side of that
building and say if you don't fall off, you can have the $1,000.00.
What are you going to do? Your probably going to wobble or say
fuck it, you know what I mean? It's the same plank, the same
money, the same atmosphere, the same everything except what I'm
doing with the situation is... When you have the plank lying
on the mat, the only thing in your mind is if you fall off the
plank you're not going to get the $1,000.00, you're not going
to lose nothing; you're not going to lose your life. Your mind
starts focusing right there on when you get to the other side,
what I am going to do with that $1,000.00. But when I put you
in the different scenario and I control your fear, I control
how you’re going to think. All of the sudden,
BAM, instead of the rewards of success, what your focus is going
to be on is... "Shit, seven stories up, shit, if I fall
- I die". Right there, you're not even thinking of the $1,000.00.
You're not even thinking of one way of how you're going to spend
the $1,000.00 because you're so worried about falling.
I
believe every fighter has that, whether it begins at the beginning
of the fight or when he's getting arm locked. I believe every
fighter has that in them where they have fear, and at that point,
where you're going to become a Yamato Damashii fighter or you're
not, is what you do with the fear and how you look at it. And
what you focus your mind on. If you focus on the fear you’re
going to tap. No one is going to fight with all they have. But
I've been living my life by giving 100% until the very end and
focusing on what you're going to gain from it. And if you don't,
then that's something you learn.
People
think that I'm a crazy guy or a bad ass warrior. I threw down
with Igor because I don't fear anything. When I threw down with
Igor I feared it. I threw down with Igor because I knew that
was a situation that I'd never be able to be in again. That fear
of his... one punch can knock the shit out of me. You know what
I mean? Like that Brazilian guy he fought that he fell forward
and his eyes rolled back after one punch. So one punch can do
that to me. Can you imagine that fear, being in that range? I
know that I'm hitting Igor so if I can hit him, he can hit me.
And we're throwing down, one blow after another. Like walking
into a danger zone - walking into a fire and trying to save some
people in the fire and think straight. Yeah, so it's a misunderstanding
that Yamato Damashii is not a machoism, not about being tough,
it's not about no fear, no pain. It's about what you do with
that fear and pain. How you live your whole life that will affect
how you react in these situations.
Interviewer:
For people who don't seem to understand. How does that transition
into training? Cause sometimes you have to tap.
Enson:
OK, yeah. Training is a whole different thing. Training is not
a life or death situation. Training, your there to learn your
there to get better. I'll tap in training. I think tapping is
good in training. If there is any situation that is even near
an armbar or is bad enough, I'll tap. I won't risk injury in
training.
Like
I said, getting into the ring, fighting, it helps put your self
into a life and death situation -- without really being in a
life or death situation. But training isn't like that. Training
is a different thing. You know I always emphasis to my students,
all this discipline that I'm setting in you, all this thing I'm
talking about, you pushing yourself is not only about fighting
it's about your whole lifestyle. I don't want them to learn and
go out and train hard and be a pussy in their work. Don't wanna
go to work and they call in sick. You know what I mean? I'm trying
to emphasis that. Training is a part of life, I believe. Tapping
in training is very different than tapping in the ring.
It's
like having a negotiation with your mother or your father and
giving in on the negotiation, even if you think you're right,
because it's your family and you don't want to get into a fight
with your family. Same thing, you don't want to cause this funny
aggression against this fellow member/fellow teammate. You don't
wanna break your arm - same thing. Same thing that you don't
wanna have a family argument. But if you're in a misunderstanding
with another Yakuza group or you're in a misunderstanding with
a promotion - that's a whole different thing. It's like fighting
in a fight. Training is like having an argument with your family.
But having an argument in a business negotiation is a different
thing. That's like fighting, I think.
Interviewer:
There's something I'd like to clarify since you're very open
about your life and answering many questions on the Internet.
It's regarding Kid Yamamoto and his run in with the Yakauza.
From what I understand, Kid's father was an Olympic wrestler
and Kid was heading that direction, but had some kind of run
in with the Yakuza that prevented that. What is the full story
on that?
Enson:
What happened with that is... well... Kid, he's a kid and he
plays around and he has fun. He was shooting a BB gun and hit
a Yakuza in the eye. They didn't even know that they hit the
guy. They were playing around shooting his friends and I guess
it hit the guy, I don't know. That's what he tells me. I don't
know if he was aiming and shooting people and one of them was
Yakuza. What happened was, the guy took his plate number down
and he was in Yamanashi College, he was one of the top wrestlers
there.
The
guy followed him to where he lives and those guys actually went
in and tried to get him out of the room. He had to jump out of
three stories. I don't know if he had to climb down or if there
was a roof to jump down on to. Apparently from the balcony he
got out from three stories and ran to a restaurant. He called
me from the restaurant, telling me that there are Yakuza out
there and they want to get him. So if I get there, it's going
to be 3-4 hours since it's far away. I said, what you need to
do is go somewhere where there's a lot of people and wait there.
They're not going to touch you where there are a lot of people.
I
made some phone calls and those guys backed away because of some
people that I know. What happened was, Kid, because of the incident,
got kicked out of college. Then he got banned for one year from
the wrestling association - so he couldn't enter any wrestling.
The Olympics were the following year, so he would be out one
year. He had a whole year to get ready for the Olympics.
One
year out of wrestling, so all I did was mention to Kid, hey Kid,
come to my gym. Why don't you come train submissions? I said,
it's still the same movement in wrestling, you can still wrestle,
and you can use your wrestling for something else. He said, oh
OK. He came down and I worked on him for like a week and I told
him, hey you got a future in this. If you want to push it, come
move all your stuff here and don't worry about money, I'll take
care of everything. I got an apartment for him.
So...
he did that, he came down. What happened was, one year later
he fell in love with fighting and that's all he wanted to do.
So now what happens is, dad comes to me and tells me - make Kid
quit and make Kid wrestle. I said, you know what? As far as Olympic
level wrestling, if your heart's not in it, no one can tell you
to do it. If his heart's not in it, he's not going to train like
he should. So... I'm not going to make him do it, unless he wants
to.
Ok...
so his dad calls Kid and tells him that if he fights, he'll never
support him ever again. Dads are like that huh? So I told Kid,
do what you need to do but don't worry about money -- because
that's when I had a lot of money from PRIDE. I said, I'll support
you. Kid moved in with me for one whole year. He turned his dad
down and everything. I got him the contract and everything. Now
the dad is coming around and wants to take Kid over. He wants
the contract, he wants to manage Kid. That's the big problem
I have right now with Kid. I know you’ve probably
seen it on the Internet that I have a big problem with Kid. I'm
sure there's a question on everyone's mind, because I haven't
been in the corner for Kid for the last three fights. It's because
there's a problem. There's a possibility I might totally separate
myself from him, or I might start being in his corner again.
I'm not sure right now.
Interviewer:
What about your current legal problems?
Enson:
There's a lot of things going on in my life. I have a court case
coming. I opened up a racquetball company E-force Japan, that's
Egan's company. I did the Japan side. I hired this guy Sakai
to do it after I figured it was very sturdy and I didn't need
to be here anymore, I wanted to go home to Hawaii. Then before
I go home, I thought, get in the ring once, just to get that
experience to see what that control is like with the fear and
the anxiety of getting in the ring.
One
thing led to another and fighting got big. I made that guy President
and made him take over the whole company, and I put all the gyms
under that company, which meant my fight money goes through that.
T-shirt sales, everything goes through that.
Interviewer:
I just want to clarify, that when you said he's the president,
which means he's technically the owner here in Japan? (The reason
why I asked this, is because foreigners are not allowed to legally
own businesses here in Japan. More often than not, they will
have a Japanese national listed as the owner or President of
their company.)
Enson:
Owner is different, President is... I guess he has all the stocks
in the company, but I'm the owner and everybody knows that -
but the paperwork, he's the owner. I made him the owner but every
big decision would have to go through me. To make a long story
short. After I retired, I looked into the business. I fought
Mark Kerr, made money, and put a small percentage back into the
company, every time I fought.
I
retire and I go back into the books, start looking into the books.
How's the money doing? There was suppose to be a lot of money
on the side and were suppose to split it, me and him. We go there
and look into it. You know how much money we had in the fucking
company? $30,000.00. I said, whoa! Where's the money? He said,
ok but we got $120,000.00 of stock - t-shirts. I said, I know,
I don't care, that comes out to $200,000.00, I said, where's
the money? He starts crying. "I'm sorry, I fucked up? I'm
a bad businessman, I'm sorry. I don't know where the money went."
I'm
thinking whoa! No way. So that was a problem. So what I did with
him, he always lied to me, consecutive times. I always wanted
to work with him because I considered him like a brother. So...
I didn't want to get rid of him or smash him or anything, so
I kept working with him. But he kept lying to me. So finally
I got mad. I went in there and he had to give me his car, he
had a place he had bought and he had to get out of there and
I moved into there, and I collected some cash from him. As I
was doing that, he planned to sue me - a civil suit for extortion.
And he started recording conversations and stated getting things,
way ahead of time, I didn't even know some of this stuff. Then
he got a lawyer to have him seal all the paperwork, to make sure
he was the sole owner, make sure only his name is on the company,
contract, everything.
A
long story short, he did a very good job. I lost the civil case.
I can't believe it. So what's happening now is that he's creating
a criminal on extortion, which is a sentence of anywhere from
1-5 years in jail. Right now, there's an investigation going
on.
Interviewer:
Do you know when that will be completed?
Enson:
At the end of the year. They'll go to the courts and the court
system will either throw it out or let it become a court case.
If it becomes a court case, that's not too good.
Interviewer:
The fact that you're technically American, does that play a factor?
Enson:
I don't know, because right now I have a green card. I don't
know if I get convicted and I have to go in, if that will affect
my green card. I don't think it will. Basically this is home.
I'll go to jail for three years if I can come back and stay in
Japan.
My
basic theory is, I'm not wrong in this. I've done nothing wrong.
The money I took was rightfully my money. In fact, this guy still
owes me money. I'm not really afraid of the outcome. I'll try
my best to win the case. If I lose and I do have to go to jail,
I believe it's destiny. I believe everything is destiny. I believe
everything happens for a reason.
Interviewer:
So... regardless of the outcome, your gyms are still safe?
Enson:
Yeah. I'm safe as far as that goes. The criminal case is bad.
If I lose the criminal case, the worst case scenario is five
years. That's very long. I told you, I believe there's destiny.
I'm not wrong, I believe there's a chance that I might win this
case. Even if I don't win it and I do go to jail it's not for
that. What God is doing for me is that he's putting me in jail
for a reason. I can see two reasons that God would be protecting
me from. One, is a car accident. Maybe I was supposed to die
next year in a car accident but because I'm in jail, I cannot
drive, I cannot get into the car accident - he might save my
life. Two, another thing is, like I said, I'm surrounded by the
Underworld. I've got a lot of friends. Maybe I am getting a little
too deep. I do feel like it sometimes. I feel like I'm part of
the family, with all different families. Maybe if I got to prison
for 1-3 years it'll make it... it will cut all the ties... maybe
it won't cut but make it further.
I
believe that if I do lose a case that I'm right in and I do go
to jail. I believe that there is a reason for it. I'll go in
there with a positive attitude thinking "shit, he's protecting
me from a car accident - cool".
Interviewer:
Is it true that you don't drink?
Enson:
Yeah. I don't drink or smoke at all. Egan doesn't either. We
didn't drink or smoke because of racquetball. The thing you have
to understand is I started in high school when I was 16. Basically
you don't drink alcohol when you're young. And I had another
alternative because I wanted to become the best racquetball player
in the world.
We
woke up early, 6 A.M. to train, I had no time for a hang over.
Egan was like that. Egan was actually the one who made me like
that, because he was like that. I looked up to him as a mentor
and an older brother.
Drinking
isn't bad at all. It's just... like I said, we started at age
16 playing racquetball. We never drank because of that - racquetball.
I never wanted to drink or have a cigarette. My run that I did
every Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'd drop one minute on, I'd get
slower. You know what I mean? I was afraid of that. I was afraid
of partying and coming back to my training the next week and
trying to gain seconds every time I ran the route but I'm dropping
minutes, I'm worried about that. I'm worried about never ever
getting it back. That's why I didn't drink in the beginning.
I
came to Japan, started fighting, and it was ok to drink then,
but I never liked it. I never liked the taste. If I ever did
drink it would be like a shot of tequila or kamikaze. It tastes
like cough syrup. I mean beer tasted different - beer is beer.
Wine is alcohol. But shots are like cough syrup, Nyquil to me
actually. So we never drank. When it came to fight parties, we
sometimes had some Kompaiis (Japanese version of cheers or a
toast) and do some shots.
When
I drink one shot, I get red, all swollen, and my throat feels
like it’s getting half the size. I feel like
I’m breathing through a snorkel. My whole body
is beat red and when I push on it, it’s like
I got sunburn. It turns all white and then the red comes back.
I believe that I’m probably allergic. Basically
I don’t drink or smoke
Interviewer:
How about your folks? Do they smoke or drink?
Enson:
My dad doesn't smoke or drink either. My mom smokes and drinks.
So it's not a parent thing. I'm pretty happy that I don't smoke
or drink because when I see my friends get drunk, they get real
stupid. I'm sure it's probably fun at the time.
Interviewer:
Does that bother you?
Enson:
No, not at all. I have no problem with that. I understand that
they're drunk that they're having fun. It's cool. I understand
too that you do a lot of things that you probably wouldn't do
- it kinda distorts your personality. If you're a gentlemen to
girls you might be a dick to them. When I see those kinds of
things, I'm kinda happy that I don't drink.
But
of course, it does look fun sometimes when they're drinking.
I do have fun watching that too. I do have fun playing along
and playing jokes on the guy who's drunk, you know what I mean?
I have a lot of fun without being drunk. I just don't like the
taste. Then again, I feel I have like an allergic reaction to
it. Basically, I don't need it. I don't crave it.
Interviewer:
What do you do to relax? Have fun? To get away from all the stress
here.
Enson:
Game centers (video arcades), listen to music, and cruise.
Interviewer:
What kind of music do you listen to?
Enson:
Reggae, hip hop, Hawaiian contemporary.
Interviewer:
Game centers? Any games? What kind of games?
Enson:
Mental games - video poker, like Las Vegas. No money but it's
still something to do. Kills time.
Interviewer:
Do you have any Playstations hooked up in your house?
Enson:
I have everything – Playstation2, X-Box, and
Game Cube. I have a Game Cube downstairs in my room, I have it
everywhere. I love games. Honestly, I now kill my time with girls.
I love girls. I love chicks. I always ask myself this... ask
yourself this too. What would the world be like, if all the chicks
in the world disappeared and there were only guys? How much would
you actually try to be rich? How much would you actually want
to drive a nice car? How bad would you actually want to be in
shape, without ever having to want to enter in a fight? Why would
I want to be ripped? Why am I trying to stay in shape now? Why
is it for? Is it for... is it actually for me? Yeah, it is for
me, for self esteem. Why do I need self esteem?
Do
I give a fuck if I'm fat and have a belly sticking out when I'm
talking to a guy about job negotiations? No, I don't give a fuck.
Do I give a fuck about having a stomach when girls are saying,
do you have abs, do you have a six pack? Oh hell yeah I do! Do
I give a fuck about my body when I'm taking off my clothes with
a nice chick and she's gonna get more turned on by my body? Or
do I give a fuck if I'm going out with the boys to the Matsuri
they have tonight, if I'm fat? I don't give a fuck. You know
what I mean? I wonder, shit man, I wonder what would change in
my life if all the chicks disappeared? I think my life would
change a lot. I think to myself right there - shit, man, I love
chicks! Basically I love chicks. I don't know how this conversation
went from Yamato Damashii to chicks, but I guess Yamato Damashii
has a lot to do with chicks. Another thing I'm doing is pro wrestling
on August 14th - Riki Pro, and another one on September 11th.
Interviewer:
Where's the location of both of these places?
Enson:
Riki Pro, that one is going to be in Tokyo, Korakuen Hall. I'm
not sure where the September one will be. That's September 11th
man, terrorist day. I have no idea who I'm going to wrestle or
what the story is but they already asked me to open on the 14th.
It's good, it keeps me in shape. I'm going to run because of
that. I don't want to look too fat in the ring. The reason why
I don't want to look too fat in the ring, is not only for the
chicks, or the fans that look at me as a fighter, it's because
of PRIDE – the association. If I'm coming out
real fat, they're going to look at me like - there's no way,
he's not real serious.
Source:
IronLife.com
|
Quote
of the Day
"Laughter is an instant vacation."
Milton Berle, 1908-2002, American Comedian known as "Uncle
Miltie"
|
Boxing
Showdown at High Noon
Waimanalo 2005 Sunset On The Beach
Waimanalo Beach Park, Waimanalo
September 11, 2005
4:30PM – 5:30PM
Youngsters
showcase their skills in Boxing, Jump Rope Competition, Mitts
Competition, and a Mixed Martial Arts display.
East-Oahu
Waimanalo Boxing Club presents USA Amateurs from around the island
to showcase their talents in an official USA Amateur Boxing sanctioned
competition.
Source: Kuks
|
HERO's
Yamamoto and Sudo Emerge from Tournament
By Roxanne Modafferi
TOKYO, September 7 -- Inside the Ariake Coliseum, 9,950 people
took shelter from the wind and the rain of the typhoon to witness
the HEROS of K-1 battle it out for the right to continue on to
HERO'S Dynamite!, to be held on December 31st. Little did the
audience know the real typhoon was swirling inside, as some of
the most technical fighters in the world faced each other in
K-1's new MMA promotion.
The
spotlight was on the promotion's Middleweight tournament (70
kg/154.3 lb limit), brimming over with recognizable Japanese
names such as Caol Uno, Genki Sudo, and Norifumi "Kid"
Yamamoto, as well as Brazilian Royler Gracie added to the mix.
By night's end, six bouts yielded finalists Sudo and "Kid"
Yamamoto, who will battle it out on New Year's Eve. Five super
fights, including a "reserve match" between Koutetsu
Boku and Hermes Franca, rounded out the action.
In
Sudo's road to a final's slot, the Japanese showman armbarred
opponent Miyata in the second round of his first bout, then submitted
Hiroyuki Takaya with a triangle choke later that evening. For
Yamamoto, a feverish first round with Gracie led to an equally
active second, where Gracie threw a front jab and Kid stepped
into it, knocking the Brazilian out cold with a hard right hand
38 seconds in.
However,
the fight of the night went to Caol Uno and Hideo Tokoro. These
lithe fighters were so technical their fight could be used in
an instructional video, yet Uno controlled enough of the action
to garner a unanimous decision. Uno would later fall to "Kid"
Yamamoto in the semi-finals, sustaining a cut near his left eye
that would result in a referee's stoppage in the second round.
FULL
RESULTS:
Hero's:
2005 Middleweight Tournament Semifinal
Held September 7, 2005
Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
Atsushi
Yamamoto def. Katsuya Toida - Unanimous decision
Koutetsu Boku def. Hermes Franca - Majority decision
Yoshihiro Nakao def. Fia Falamoe - Armbar 2:35 R1
Tournament
Quarter-Finals:
Genki Sudo def. Kazuyuki Miyata - Armbar 4:45 R2
Hiroyuki Takaya def. Remigijus Morkevicius - TKO (Ref stoppage
from strikes) 4:16 R2
Norifumi Yamamoto def. Royler Gracie - KO (Punch) 0:38 R2
Caol Uno def. Hideo Tokoro - Unanimous decision
Akira
Kikuchi def. Kiuma Kunioku - Decision
Sam Greco def. Shungo Oyama - KO (Knee) 2:37 R1
Tournament
Semi-Finals:
Genki Sudo def. Hiroyuki Takaya - Triangle choke 3:47 R2
Norifumi Yamamoto def. Caol Uno - TKO (Ref stoppage from cut)
4:04 R2
Source:
FCF
|
Gracie
Back in Action
By Takimoto
A
week before the HERO's Lightweight GP finals (9/7 Tokyo, Ariake
Colosseum), I visited Royler Gracier's academy (GRACIE HUMAITA)
to see and hear what the multi-time Jiu-Jitsu/ADCC champion was
doing in preparation for his challenge in the quarter-finals
against the ferocious Norifumi 'KID' Yamamoto. On this occasion,
I took a different perspective. I didn't ask too much to Royler,
since I decided to focus on how training took place and observer
how intelligent and experienced fighters act in determined situations.
Royler, although winning several BJJ and ADCC tounrments, has
never been in a MMA tournament in his career. Now this he is
set to do just that after defeating pro-boxer Koji Yoshida in
the first round of the HERO's event.
'I did everything in that fight, where I could reach him I did.
If I didn't submit him, it was because he has skill.'
Before we ask questions about KID Yamamoto, people wanted to
hear Royler's perspective on Alexandre 'Pequeno' Franca Nogueira's
loss to Hideo Tokoro and how a final would be between two Brazilians
in HERO's.
'Man, I think people have doubts about the KO that Pequeno suffered.
I think the interruption was premature, but they have their methods
to judge what is or isn't, and then... About a final involving
Pequeno and me, well... I can tell you that I never thought about
it. How can I think about this since I didn't beat my first opponent,
this is foolishness! Of course I'd like to fight Pequeno in the
finals, but I had to beat my first opponent and now I have to
face another, I just couldn't think about this - ever!'
Royler's preparation was different this time. We mentioned before
that Royler never has been involved in part of an MMA tournament
before. However, this savvy submission grappler knows how to
work through the brackets.
'This is a job that I've had for a long time. I feel well and
I think I can make a very good fight because this is what the
audience expects. This fight against Kid Yamamoto is long-awaited
since it was announced. I'm ready to fight richly and bring a
good fight for the fans.'
You could have two fights in one night. How do you manage your
preparation for it?
'Well, I told you before. First, KID... I'm not used to thinking
about a probable opponent since I didn't beat the first one yet
(KID). When I fought Jiu-Jitsu, I just thought about the opponent
who was in front of me and not a probable one. My strategy is
to beat KID in one aspect each time. If I beat him, I'll think
about the next fight.
Royler already faced tough guys in MMA such as his 'ValeTudo
debut' in a closed-doors fight versus Eugenio Tadeu, PRIDE 8
versus Kazushi Sakuraba, and the K-1 ROMANEX show versus UFC
veteran Genki Sudo. However, fans and insiders see KID as your
toughest challenge ever. What would you like to tell us?
'He's tough and I know it. However, if he has his tools, I have
the same. I know his main weapons and he knows mine as well.
I can't take his punches on my face and believe that I can absorb
all of them. KID knows that he can't hesitate with his arms,
neck, or any other points because I'll submit him. I'm a fighter
focused on making him tap out and he wants to put me on the mat
from strikes. The inverse can happen as well, it's the nature
of the sport.'
So, what can Brazilian fans expect from you?
'I'm
prepared and I will do my best. All of my efforts will overwhelm
KID and I will go onto the next round of this event. Fans from
overseas can pick KID as the favorite, but as I mentioned before,
everyone has a chance to beat each other and I'll try to impose
my ways on KID.'
Source:
Maxfighting
|
Bushido
Europe Today!
Bushido Europe
October 9th, 2005
Ahoy Europe, Rotterdam, Holland
Below
is the the line-up for the Bushido Europe card on October 9th.
The card is being promoted in association with DSE/PRIDE:
MMA
matchups:
Alexander Emilianenko vs. Rene Rooze
Mark Coleman vs. Gilbert Yvel
Kevin Randelman vs. Igor Vovchanchin
Valentijn Overeem vs. Anthony Hardonk
Gegard Mousasi vs. Stefan Klever
Ronny Rivano vs. Chico Martinez
Muay
Thai matchups:
Rodney Faverus vs. Gokan Saki
Jerrel Venetiaan vs. Ashwin Balrak
Imro Main vs. Wiliam Diender
Tyrone Spong vs. Vincent Vielvoye
Possible
fighters on the card:
Ernesto Hoost
Source:
Fight Sport
|
ENSON SPEAKS: PART 1
Part one of the 2-part interview
by Hody Jae Huh
Interviewer:
First, thanks for doing the interview. I know that you're a busy
guy. Is there anything new that you would like to share?
Enson:
I've been waiting for a fight. I've got offers from PRIDE, SHOOTO,
and a semi-round about offer from the UFC right now. For me,
in my regular days when I first started, I was fighting because
I enjoyed it and wanted to see how good I was. I already knew
how good I was, I don't enjoy it anymore. Now it's for the money.
If I were to come back, which I don't need to... I got 3 more
offers for new gyms that sponsors want to open up, but I can't
spread myself so thin. We already got one in Saitama, Tokyo,
Kyoto, and now a new one in Osaka. Got one in Guam and Saipan.
So... spreading myself thin now.
What's
happening now is, before when I was fighting 90% of my time was
training and 10% of my time was moving around and working, but
now it's become the opposite. 90% is my work and 10% is training.
I'm getting a little bit fatter but I'm not training as much
- I'm doing more weight lifting and running only. It becomes
a whole different thing now, when people ask me to fight. If
they ask me to fight, it has to be worth my time, where I'm going
to stop everything I do, ignore my gyms for 3 whole months and
train like I used to do, 90% and 10% just moving around. The
money has to be there, that's the only problem.
Interviewer:
I read that it has to be a good 6 figures. Referring to the amount
it would take to get you back into the ring.
Enson:
Yeah, it has to be 6 figures, definitely. I got one in February
from Pride for mid-5 figures, but I turned it down. The UFC is
apparently going 50/50; 50 to show and 50 to win. I don't like
to have pressure on myself to win; I might fall into trying to
win and playing a boring game. I'm not worried about getting
knocked out; I'm worried about losing a fight. I've never had
a contract win/lose. I've always negotiated my own contracts
on a one time payment. When I fought for PRIDE against Nogueria,
it was a one time payment. If the UFC comes up with $100,000.00,
I'll fight Tito, Randy, Ricco... anybody.
Interviewer:
Have they mentioned any names to you?
Enson:
Just Randy. I don't think they are giving me a chance. That's
why I'm thinking too, if they don't put out 6 figures - I ain't
gonna fight because they're not doing it for me, and they're
not doing any good for me fighting in the States, fighting someone
who has been at the top of his game. Of course he lost to Chuck
(Liddel), but one loss isn't going to change the whole career
of a person. I still think Randy is at the top of his game. So...
they're not doing it for me, they're doing it for them and Randy.
I'm like an instrument they want to use to fine tune Randy's
reputation back.
What
I think what they want to do is build Randy again. They want
to build someone with Randy, someone that they think 90% he would
beat. Me, being someone who hasn't been active and having lost
to the top fighters in my last 4 fights. I think is a good possibility
that I will probably lose the fight, is what they are thinking.
But,
they think I got something that is sellable. They can get any
Tom, Dick, or Harry out to fight Randy and he can beat them up.
But they don't have the credentials that I have - my only credentials
are -- that I beat Randy Couture. That's good enough credentials
to probably sell the fight. They probably don't want to say it
to me, but I'm a smart guy, I know what's going on. I'm a very
good "tomato can" for Randy. I beat him before, but
that was way back in my prime in '98. That's what I believe it
is. So... if they want me to sacrifice myself, which is what
they think I'm going to do, but I'm going out to beat him. They
got to pay the price. I'm doing them a favor by fighting for
them. I look at it that way. It's not like I'm an upcoming fighter
that wants to get into the UFC by all means. It isn't like that.
If that was the case, $50,000.00 is a damn good price for me.
I
don't enjoy it anymore, there's too much stress involved. Referring
to fighting, I don't enjoy the fact that I'll be walking into
the ring accepting that I might die there today. My whole life
isn't involved around the fighting anymore. When it was, it was
alright for that.
In
your life you have stepping stones. One is like elementary school,
another is high school, and another is like college or going
through some relationship with some girls or something. Another
one is marriage. I think fighting in my life - to become the
ultimate man, where I can die as a man. I already cleared the
fighting stage. There's nothing more that I can learn about myself
as a man that I already did with fighting. I think the Igor and
Frank Shamrock fights actually taught me a lot of myself.
Interviewer:
What part of that did it teach you?
Enson:
Adjusting to the fear. I always thought that in the ring, the
reason why I never win is because I fall off the meaning of why
I am fighting. Which is... to every other fan and fighter it
is falling off, but to me it isn't falling off. The reason why
I fight, the reason why I always have the energy and the excitement
to get in the ring is because as a fighter, I'm lucky. I can
put myself in a life and death situation and test my heart, my
ability to think and adjust and move on thinking straight, every
time I get in the ring.
That's
why throwing blow-for-blow with Igor was so intriguing to me.
That it was such a scary situation, that I wanted to be able
to think, be able to throw punches, be able to know when to take
him down, be able to know when to do something, in the flurry
of the punches. He took me down, so I wasn't able to take him
down but I feel that fighters are lucky. We're lucky because
we got the opportunity to test it all the time.
Some
other salary man (business man or white collar worker) won't
be able to test his... what kind of... how he would be able to
adjust under fear, under pressure like we do in the ring - until
it's too late. The only time a salary man will get under that
kind of pressure or fear is when it's too late.
When
I get into the ring, the reason why I even started fighting wasn't
because I wanted to be the best fighter in the world or to make
money. It's because when I was a racquetball player, and when
I went into the world racquetball tour, I had so many butterflies
that I had a hard time adjusting myself. I always thought these
aren't my feet. Why can't I move like I move in practice, every
single day I practice? Slowly as I entered tournaments I could
control that nervousness and fear. The fear was always there
when I got into the court but I could control it.
I
was friends with Rickson Gracie, at the time I was training Jiu-Jitsu
as a hobby. When I saw his fight in Japan, when I was here, when
I was a racquetball player, I had some major butterflies. More
butterflies than I would be if I were in a racquetball court
playing a racquetball world tournament. I had more butterflies
watching my friend fight in the ring. So then right there, it
clicked in my head. Shit... I wonder how it would feel for me
to be in the ring?
The
reason why I believe that I didn't win a lot of fights that I
should have won, or could have won, is because my whole thing
is when you are fighting to win; you move out or fall out of
the fire. You get away from the fire, put out the fire the way
you can. When I was fighting, I had a magnet pulling me to the
fire. I see Nogueria and I wanna see what his ground is like.
I see Igor and I wanna see the end of his punches, even I'm going
to get hit, even if I do get knocked out. I fought 19 times and
lost 8. But in my heart I didn't lose a fight. In my fight career,
I'm 11-8. But in my fight to become a stronger man inside --
I'm undefeated. There was never a time in the fight when I lost
control of my fear. There was never a time in the fight when
I got scared and wanted to get out of the ring and give up. Basically
my fighting is done - I think. In the ring, I've learned all
I can. As a man, to get back into the ring would be a step back
for me. So what I'm doing now is just for extra cash.
What
I'm doing with the pro wrestling now is; 1) Getting side cash.
2) Just being active in any type of event which helps T-shirt
sales. 3) Keep my name sold. I'm in some magazines because of
pro wrestling. I'll be on TV because of pro wrestling. It keeps
my fame alive and it keeps me from becoming a blimp. So that's
what I am doing right now.
The
other big thing that I'm doing right now. I haven't been getting
any good offers to fight, so by the end of this year, if I don't
get any really good offers I'm thinking of putting the gloves
in the closet and start more on the promotion/management side.
Cause I got links with K-1, PRIDE, DEEP, Pancrase, SHOOTO, Shinichi.
Pretty much every pro wrestling association.
I've
been getting a lot of people telling me - why don't you promote?
As far as an event, of course if I got a sponsor but more to
promote fighters. I'm the one who developed Kid (Norifumi Yamamoto).
I started Kid, I taught him, and I also got him the contract
with K-1. I also, for his first 3 fights, I picked and chose
his opponents and made rules for him. Kid was the only guy that
had rules made for him. IE... alternating rounds of MMA and K-1
rules. I think for a fighter to become a star in the beginning
is just that, match making and picking the fights. Now it's up
to him. I'm thinking of moving more into that area - promoting
fighters.
Interviewer:
You're looking at promoting, just your own fighters?
Enson:
Oh no, fighters - fighters who want to be in Japan. Fighters
in Japan who want to be in the UFC, SuperBrawl, or Guam fight.
I got a lot of connections there. I know Dana White personally.
I'm sure I can bring a fighter to Dana White and bring him a
video, and he would actually look at it and try to get him in
the UFC. Basically I speak Japanese and English. I'm very respected
in the promotion side, as far as any big promotion. UFC, I think
Im respected enough in most fighting I've been getting people
telling me that all over.
I
also got Sangtiennoi in Thailand. From next year we're going
to start a Purebred Thailand. We're going to build a new gym
and house just for foreigners - air conditioning, mosquito nets,
showers, and etc. I could probably find 3-4 guys right now that
could probably win the K-1 MAX next week in Thailand. Sangtiennoi
has all the connections, I can't bring them all myself but Sangtiennoi
can. We can also get Japanese fighters fighting in Thailand,
in events, because he also promotes events in Thailand. Basically
that's what I wanna move to. I want to use everything that I
have now, all my respect, to promote fighters and get them good
contracts.
Phil
Baroni is fighting, he fights under Coleman. I'm the one that
actually brought him to Japan. I'm actually the one that told
him that he should fight in PRIDE, or Japan, for that matter.
Coleman helped him out, Coleman has an "in" with PRIDE
because he's one of the PRIDE fighters now - that's a good thing.
But I don't think Phil is getting the fight money I can get him
and/or the VIP service that I could probably get. He (Baroni)
came to train with me, he's a good friend. He wants me to come
to PRIDE (to see him fight), but... I don't know if I can make
it, I have to go to Tokyo tonight.
I
want to move into management. Maybe this interview can help,
if people see this interview and can see that I'm starting to
do that now. Any fighters that want to get into the Japan circuit,
male or female; I have a lot of connections -- the more famous
the name, the easier. Basically I will be managing them. If they
want me to be in their corner, I'll be in their corner. They
probably need me to be there for translation. I'm also looking
for any PRIDE fighters. I'm good friends with a lot of PRIDE
fighters... all of them in fact. Last time we partied with Ninja,
I see Vanderlai a lot in Tokyo, Coleman and Randleman, Phil Baroni,
they're all good friends. Basically every fighter in the whole
circuit, I know. I believe at lot of them (fighters) get fucked
by the promotions, because they don't understand how it's run.
Interviewer:
Tell us about the incident with Guy Mezger back in PRIDE 13.
Enson:
PRIDE tried to play a game with Guy Mezger after he beat my brother.
I was already , but not if PRIDE is going to make him call me
out. And the way he was going to do it was really bad. I didn't
know about it. A lot of people on the Internet want to know this
story. Guy comes over to me to shake my hand. I go to shake his
hand after he beats Egan - "good fight." I went to
go check on Egan in the ring. Guy comes over to me and says "hey,
remember it's not personal." Beating my brother, why would
that be personal? It's part of fighting - I'm a professional.
I
look at him and say "What are you talking about? Good fight
man." Then Guy says "No, no, no, no, not the fight."
This
is in the ring, if you look at the video you can probably see
us talking:
Guy:
"No, I gotta call you out."
Enson:
"What? What do you mean you have to call me out?"
Guy:
"I gotta challenge you; I agreed to challenge you if I beat
Egan..."
Enson:
"You know I retired, right?"
Guy:
"I know, but it not my style, but shit... I have to do it."
Then
I grabbed his hand and I starting forcing him into the corner.
I pinned him in the corner:
Enson:
"You know what? If you don't want to do it, don't fucking
do it! What the fuck? Don't do anything you don't want to do...
dont do it."
Guy:
"It's in my contract"
Enson:
"That's fucked up. OK, do what you have to do."
He
toned it down though. He was supposed to call me out in a bad
way. He thought I knew about it. PRIDE told him that I knew about
it. They were going to play that game. Eventually he (Guy) comes
into our locker room. Once again he says "You know what
guys, I respect you guys. I like you guys as fighters. I would
never do anything, this is not my style, but this is an agreement
I made with PRIDE." Then he gave me a name of who he talked
to (the name of the PRIDE rep that told Guy to call him out).
Then I said "Cool. I got nothing with you. Thanks man, good
fight." Boom, finished, everything is gone. Guy is a class
act and I respected him as a great fighter, but now I also respect
him as a person.
Then
I started calling the PRIDE guys in. They don't... they stated
playing games again, like they probably do with all the fighters.
They said "He's busy, he's busy". I said "yeah
I know he's busy, but what you guys have to understand is, that
this problem is more important right now than anything."
Then they made me wait for a half hour. In short, I was able
to talk to the people that he needed to talk to directly, and
force them to admit what they did. As a peace offering, they
gave me monetary compensation as an apology, which is common
practice here in Japan.
If
you come with me, I'll make time to meet you. I'll make time
to answer your calls. I'll make time to answer questions for
fans but once you fuck me, I'll fuck you right back. You're not
going to fuck me and get away with it. That's the thing, that's
the problem - promotions are about fucking fighters. The better
you can fuck a fighter, the cheaper you can get him, the more
you can make. Maybe fucking is too strong of a word, so maybe
take advanatge is a more appropriate word. That's what it's all
about. For me, which is good, I think when people come with me
as management - they'll never get fucked or taken advantage of.
Cause the associations w | |
