Mach is having his first charity event

Hayato "Mach" Sakurai updated his blog.

I am going to produce my first charity event, "Mach Matsuri" in Ushiku sports park in Ibaragi on Apr 06. The capacity of this arena is 3000. Tickets are all 1000 yen. I will have an exhibition fight and please come and visit. For ticket information, please call Mach Dojo at 0297-39-3966.

Gomi updated his website

From Gomi's official website..

It's getting warm and I cannot wait until spring comes. Spring is the season of graduation. At the same time, it's an energetic time for many people to start and challenge something new.

Japanese MMA news now talk about Sengoku and DREAMS. They compare both events and have interviews of fighters. I enjoy reading interviews because it's good to know about thoughts, goals and situation they had when they made decisions. I have good energy from other fighters because they train hard to achieve goals even if we fight in different events.

I wonder why interviewers often ask fighters questions coming from the thought of Sengoku vs. DREAM. I suppose they believe the composition of Sengoku vs DREAM will attract more people. Fighters focus on training and their opponents. They train hard everyday under huge pressures and they have no time to think about other fighters and other events now. It's good for Japanese MMA to get more attention, however, I cannot cooperate with MMA magazines all the time, especially right before my fight.

I was so lazy that I didn't fight at all last year. I'm back and fight in the very first event in 2008. I'm going to change my entrance music. You will find out on Mar 5.

What Japanese fans think about Mirko

Mirko Crocop had an interview with a Croatian paper which translation was posted on sherdog.  In a Japanese discussion forum, people talk about Mirko and M-1. 

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=734943

- Dana White is smart.  If Mirko fights Fedor and wins, Dana definitely takes Mirko back to the UFC and makes money having his fights.  If Mirko loses in DREAM, the UFC will just say goodbye to Mirko without hesitating.  The UFC won't lose anything by letting Mirko fight in another MMA event.

- I think it's impossible to have Mirko fight Fedor this year.  What we want to see is a fight between Fedor and Couture and M-1 is working on arranging it.  I cannot believe the UFC has debts because it seems they are doing a good business and even cooperate with Yahoo. 

- I think M-1 breaks before having their debut event.  A fight between Fedor vs Mirko is more realistic than Fedor vs Couture?

- DREAM is again doing silly business by not having written contracts but only having verbal contracts.  People who are on the side of DREAM were bashing Sengoku because they of their verbal contracts with fighters, however DREAM does the same thing.  Sengoku should learn from the experience with Baroni.  (Baroni announced to fight in IconSport in Hawaii on Mar 15, 3 days before he announced to cancel fighting in Sengoku due to his injury.)

- I don't think a fight between Mirko and Fedor is realistic.  Fedor has no reason and will see no  benefit fighting Mirko who lost in the UFC.  Mirko needs to prove himself before asking him to fight.  Mirko is famous and popular, however he is obviously not good enough to fight Fedor.

- I think Mirko lost in the UFC and needs to win at least 2 times in DREAM.  If he wins, he maybe get a chance to fight Fedor.

- I wonder why the verbal agreement is popular in Japan.  I cannot imagine why.  It is not necessary to have contracts which tie fighters and are only beneficial for the UFC.  I think written contracts are essential to avoid a case like Baroni, who quit in last minutes.  Mirko definitely needs to win 3 times in a row for sure.

- Even if Mirko defeats Fedor and other good fighters in Japan, he looks not a strong fighter in the UFC.  I think he doesn't have an ability to defeat anyone in Octagon.  He needs to train with someone who have a lot of experience fighting in the UFC.

http://sadironman.seesaa.net/article/85558747.html

Misaki talks about turning over of the decision

Yarennoka turned over the decision and announced that the fight between Akiyama vs Misaki was a no contest. Misaki had kept silent since then and finally opened up and talked in public on Feb 21.

- What do you think about turning over the decision?
I have no hard feelings and just accept their announcement. I was satisfied with showing my fans my fight against Akiyama in Yarennoka.

- What do you think about your soccer ball kicking? Do you think that was a foul play?
Nobody can clearly say that was foul play or not now. I think God makes the fight no contest and I accept his decision.

- What do you think about Tanikawa criticizing your contract with Sengoku?
I wonder why. I shouldn't say anything about that misunderstanding, but I suppose Yarennoka didn't tell him about my contract clearly and correctly. I have never betrayed before and won't in my future. I'm not an unfair person and won't be. I chose Sengoku because I think that's the right way to move on.

Gomi had an interview with Kamipro

Takanori Gomi had an interview with a Japanese MMA magazine, Kamipro No 120.

- You finally announced your next stage to fight. Can I ask about your 2007?
I don't want to recall my past.

- You are a well-known fighter and many people were wondering where you fight next and I heard many rumors.
I know some publications talked about me because they expected a lot from me. I answered to their question honestly. However, I couldn't tell anything about my contract before I signed up.

- How did you feel while you were working on negotiating with many events?
I had a normal life and did what I could do at that time. I trained in my gym. I wasn't sure if I wanted to fight last year. I knew my fans wanted to see my fights and I appreciated their support though. I took a break and that was what I needed.

- You went to watch the UFC live last year.
I didn't want to stay in Japan and wanted to go somewhere for fun. That's all.

- Did you feel uncomfortable staying in Japan on NYE? I guess because many people were curious and asked how you felt?
No, not like that. I fought in front of a big audience in Saitama for past several years on NYE, and I had parties with staff and friends after fights. I was at a loss when I thought about watching MMA event on TV alone at home on NYE. I missed the countdown with thousands of MMA fans in Saitama Super Arena. The UFC event was great and I even thought about fighting there. I like fans in Saitama though. I felt NYE in Saitama was more energetic and powerful than the UFC.

- You decided not to fight in the UFC. I heard Dana White said Gomi chose Sengoku because of the money.

I didn't know that.

- He says negative things about fighters who didn't sign up with him.
Well, I felt I prefer watching the UFC to fighting there. It is definitely amazing to travel to Las Vegas, enjoy gambling and watching the UFC with hot girls. I would like to go and see the UFC again. So, I will keep in touch with Dana White to get a free pass.

- Did you watch Japanese MMA events?
Yes. I mostly watched the middle weight fights. I fast forwarded some parts and didn't watch full fights though.

- Did you imagine you fought either in Yarennoka or in Dynamite?
If I fought in those events, I wanted to fight J.Z. Calvan because he was a champion. I wasn't ready to fight and I didn't want to have a fight which disappointed my fans. Eventually, J.Z. cancelled his fight.

- Did you get any offer to fight J.Z.Calvan?
Nope. If I fight someone, then I probably choose to fight J.Z.. I went to see HEROS last summer and thought nobody could stop him. It seemed like HEROS fighters didn't want to fight him and fans in that event even felt same way.

- That's why you wanted to fight him?
It was kinda strange for me to challenge him though.

- Yes, you are the PRIDE champion, too!
Oh well, it is true that I defeated Mach Sakurai in front of the audience, but I feel like that belt is not valid anymore. That's why I want to challenge in a new place.

- Don't you have your belt with you?
I have it in my house. I don't know where to return it even.

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/column/200802/at00016416.html

Akira Maeda produces a new event "THE OUTSIDER"

Akira Maeda announced that he will produce a new event called "THE OUTSIDER" and dropped off being a supervisor of HEROS. This event is for amateur fighters who believe they are the strongest and will have HEROS rules and 20 fights. He would like to send fighters who have good records to DREAMS. Tanikawa (FEG) promised to give fighters in this new event opportunities to fight in DREAMS. Now "THE OUTSIDER" is taking applications.

http://www.hero-s.com/01herosnews/20080215/20080215.html

KID Yamamoto Interview with HEROS

HEROS official website posted the interview of Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto. HEROS had an interview with him right before the press conference of DREAM on Feb 13.

- Could you tell me about your fight against Rani Yahya on NYE?

I'm satisfied with that fight. I kept my pace without giving him chance to do anything.

- Yahya threw punches though?

I knew he came to take me down though he couldn't make a tackle. So, he decided to throw strikes. He didn't have other choices. I got to know how to handle that kind of fighter.

- I said you didn't like fighting Jujitsu specialists, and now you have a counter-plan for them?

Yes. I think I don't have any problem fighting them for now. I could have a good experience on NYE.

- Did you get confidence by defeating Yahya who is the WEC Bantam Weight champion?

Yes. That's why I would like to fight champions.

- Your fight got the highest rating of the television program.

Thanks. I'm glad to have a great fight for my fans.

- You could finish the end of 2007 by winning and your gym, Krazy Bee, is expanding and doing good business.

Yes, my gym is getting bigger and my students got more motivation. My students fight in DREAM.

- Are you talking about Kotetsu Boku? What do you think about DREAM?

I really think making an alliance is great. It's better to work together for fans and fighters. Fans can see more exciting fights and MMA will be more popular at the same time.

- What kind of performance would you like to do?

Just do like I have done in HERO'S. I could make the HERO'S light weight exciting. I would like to put more energy in our new event and want to give opportunities for young fighters.

- The light weight class doesn't have a tournament this year.

I don't even know other fighters in my class. I will fight fighters who I fought before and show good fights. Then, more fighters will sign up with this event.

- What is your resolution of this year?

My resolution is not to get injured. I don't think I will though. I want to continue winning.

- Do you show us KO'ing your opponents?

Absolutely. I'm highly motivated fighting in the new event.

- Any message to your fans?

I think Japanese MMA will be amazing from now on because 2 big organizations combined into one. Thank you for supporting me and I will do my best.

http://www.hero-s.com/01herosnews/20080219/20080219.html