Comments on: Report: Satoshi Ishii to make MMA debut at Dynamite

By: Olympic Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Wants To Fight Cro Cop And Hong Man Choi

Olympic Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii Wants To Fight Cro Cop And Hong Man Choi — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:25:15 +0000

[...] Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii has been making headlines recently for his decision to fight professionally in mixed martial arts instead of competing in the 2012 Olympics. He’s already proclaimed his desire to fight the [...]

By: D.Capitated

D.Capitated — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:08:06 +0000

The endless drone about Japanese MMA being dead has as much to do with its major nationalized stars being marginal talents as it does the Yakuza at this point. Ishii represents a fresh new face disconnected from the glory days of Sakuraba, Yoshida, or even Yamamoto. The idea that his endorsements are going to dry up overnight because he chooses to partake in MMA (which, unlike national or international amateur judo competition, will pay him large sums for participating) when companies like Nike are still involved seems odd, to say the least.

By: dave2

dave2 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:54:47 +0000

D.Cap, you’re assuming that what he makes in endorsements in MMA would be equal or better to what he would make as a national judoka hero. Judo is bigger than MMA in Japan. Life after the Yakuza Scandal has shown that MMA was a fad in Japan. In the long-term, it may not be wise for Ishii to burn bridges with the Japanese Judo Federation at his age when Japanese MMA is a very insecure market.

By: D.Capitated

D.Capitated — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:36:03 +0000

Because he can make those endorsements AND make money as a fighter. I mean, “duh” dude. Think before you speak.

By: dave2

dave2 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:32:36 +0000

If Ishii is Japan’s Michael Phelps, how come he didn’t stick with Judo a little while longer? Phelps reportedly makes $5 million per year in endorsements. I bet Ishii makes serious (but not as much as Phelps since America’s market is more lucrative than Japan) endorsement coin in Japan too. So why make the jump to MMA now when he can make a ton in endorsements for Judo?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:43:25 +0000

“Zach, how popular is Ishii in Japan. What athlete is he comparable to here in america? Rulon Gardner when he won gold?”

Yeah, but the problem is…….most people (outside of the wrestling/grappling/martial arts bubble) stopped giving a shit about Gardner about a month after he beat Alexander Karelin for gold in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 games (a side note: Gardner also won a bronze medal at the 2004 games). From what I see Ishii is probably at the level that Michael Phelps is in the States. Much higher stature than Gardner.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:10:50 +0000

Zach, how popular is Ishii in Japan. What athlete is he comparable to here in america? Rulon Gardner when he won gold?

By: 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii to Make MMA Debut in DREAM

2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii to Make MMA Debut in DREAM — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:04:46 +0000

[...] From FightOpinion: [...]

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:02:31 +0000

I think Zach’s summary is a little bit misleading. The article makes it clear that Ishii is not fighting on New Year’s Eve.

By: IceMuncher

IceMuncher — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:21:31 +0000

There was a post concerning that late last week. You can go back and read through it.

Recently there was an interview with Ed Fishmanon Carson’s Corner I believe. Without knowing any specifics of the company, he believed that Station was well run and would probably make it through successfully. He was also very doubtful that Lorenzo left for financial reasons, and thinks instead that he left because the UFC is Lorenzo’s baby, so to speak.