News R.I.P Akebono

[SuperNerd]

Pioneering Hawaiian-born sumo champion Akebono dies aged 54

Tributes paid to wrestler, who was born Chad Rowan and became the sport’s first non-Japanese grand champion in 1993

www.theguardian.com

..born Chad Rowan in Hawaii, is regarded as a pioneer after he broke down cultural barriers in the centuries-old sport to become the first non-Japanese yokozuna grand champion in 1993.

Japanese media said the wrestler, who took the name Taro Akebono when he became a Japanese citizen in 1996, had died of heart failure this month, citing a statement by the US Forces in Japan.

 

[KarateYeah]

No idea respectfully who he was or if related to UFC, but RIP

 

[SSgt Dickweed]

RIP.

 

[shunyata]

Rest in power big brother.

 

[wolffanghameha]

Damn, they die young apparently. Always wondered if they can lose weight post-retirement and become healthy (wondered the same about huge bodybuilders - not healthy for the heart). Seems he was doing pro wreslting and then had a heart attack in 2017, so I guess it was bad for a while.

RIP

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

RIP Akebono. Dude fought Royce Gracie in K1 MMA match, amongst other legitimate MMA opponents and K1 opponents, all after his sumo career. A fun time in MMA where these matches were created.

 

[Goutfather]

No idea respectfully who he was or if related to UFC, but RIP

he was a hawaiian sumo wrestler. very popular out there in his time. he fought royce. that’s his relevance to ufc.

 

[Chad R. Thundercock]

No idea respectfully who he was or if related to UFC, but RIP

He was a sumo wrestler turned K-1 fighter. He fought against the likes of Bob Sapp and Don Frye.

RIP.

 

[legedema]

RIP

 

[moreorless87]

Damn, they die young apparently. Always wondered if they can lose weight post-retirement and become healthy (wondered the same about huge bodybuilders - not healthy for the heart). Seems he was doing pro wreslting and then had a heart attack in 2017, so I guess it was bad for a while.

RIP

A lot of the time I beieve they only put on weight as sumo and then loose it afterwards.

RIP

 

[Nathan LaMontagne]

Takes a hell of a lot of courage to fight someone like Bonjasky.

Rest in peace.

 

[defjaam]

The pec muscle definition was unreal.

RIP

 

[doggo]

RIP legend.

 

[sonhow]

May he rest in peace.

Didnt he also wrestle the Big Show at wrestlemania in a sumo match?

 

[Van Daz]

RIP Akebono. Dude fought Royce Gracie in K1 MMA match, amongst other legitimate MMA opponents and K1 opponents, all after his sumo career. A fun time in MMA where these matches were created.

Yeah, I remember him from K-1. Damn!! Bit of a shock to read this. RIP big fella & thanks for entertaining us. I've got k-1 dynamite 2003 on VHS where he fought knob sapp. Treasured item in my VHS collection.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

him and the 2 other Polynesians, Konishiki and Musashimaru changed the meta of sumo. being the first foreign Yokozuna is/was a big deal. Rest in Power Akebono, King of the Giants.

 

[piropiro]

RIP

For most of his adult life he weighed 200-240kg … that must put some insane stress on your internal organs …

 

[oldschoolmmafan]

Absolute legend. A rock you must live under if you have not heard of Akebono. Rest in peace.

 

[Simple Southerner]

Rip ol skool hardcores remember him!

 

[Brigfa2]

One of the most underrated UFC fighter of all time!