Mixed martial arts in Japan explained

Boxwidth:250
Mixed martial arts in Japan
Sport:Mixed martial arts
Match:91,107[1]

Mixed martial arts in Japan has been legal since at least the 1980s, Pancrase began to be held.[2]

History

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki took place in Japan between American boxer Muhammad Ali and Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976.[3] The classic match-up between professional boxer and professional wrestler turned sour as each fighter refused to engage in the other's style of fighting style, and after 15 round stalemate it was declared a draw.[4] This was the earliest example of mixed martial arts in Japan. [5]

Pride FC for much of early 21st century in the 2000s was one of the preeminent Mixed martial arts organizations until it was discovered it was being run by the Yakuza.[6] [7] [8]

Since the 2010s, MMA in Japan has seen a sharp decline in popularity in television viewership and popularity.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Domestic organizations

The major MMA organizations in Japan are Rizin Fighting Federation, Pancrase, Shooto and ZST.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sherdog's Top 10: Largest Crowds in MMA History - No. 1. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 14 January 2018.
  2. Web site: MMA Origins: Birth of Japanese MMA. 20 February 2012 . Bloody Elbow. 13 January 2018.
  3. Web site: The forgotten story of ... Muhammad Ali v Antonio Inoki | Andy Bull. November 11, 2009. the Guardian.
  4. Web site: Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki: How a bizarre 'bout of the century' between led to friendship. Andrew. McKirdy. June 7, 2016. The Japan Times.
  5. Web site: Why Muhammad Ali's forgotten fight was also one of his most influential. Josh Gross On 06/25/16 at 12:10 PM. EDT. June 25, 2016. Newsweek.
  6. Web site: On PRIDE FC, 7 years after its close. 30 October 2014 . Bloody Elbow. 13 January 2018.
  7. Web site: Sex, Drugs, Gangsters and MMA: Remembering Pride, UFC's Wild Predecessor. Jonathan . Snowden. Bleacher Report. 13 January 2018.
  8. Web site: PRIDE Brought Wrestling's Pageantry to MMA. 16 October 2017. Vice. 13 January 2018.
  9. Web site: A DREAM Deferred: The Decline of Japanese Mixed Martial Arts . 13 July 2010 .
  10. Web site: MMA in Japan: What Went Wrong, and the Newcomer Who Could Turn Things Around . 7 September 2017 .
  11. Web site: Japanese MMA falls on hard times .
  12. News: Mixed martial arts: ONE vows to succeed where UFC failed -- Japan . Reuters . 11 April 2018 .

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