Find out he is related to a famous family
Embrace hip hop culture
Divorce and become a heartthrob
Challenge K-1
Take a bad boy persona
Fight names comparable to a Gracie, Uno, Sudo, and Miyata instead of unknown guys
I don't speak Japanese, but I did feel like he was more charismatic than usual this weekend. He wasn't crazy or yelling like what might be ideal, but I did find that he was lively and comfortable speaking to the audience, and came off as the type of guy who smiles in the face of danger.+1
Japan is filled with tons of talented MMA fighters/kickboxers who are boring af.
Ironically most of them would form the majority of this list.
I don't speak Japanese, but I did feel like he was more charismatic than usual this weekend. He wasn't crazy or yelling like what might be ideal, but I did find that he was lively and comfortable speaking to the audience, and came off as the type of guy who smiles in the face of danger.
Again I don't speak Japanese, but he didn't appear "boring af" to me. Still your points are noted.
Interesting well maybe you're right. I was still kind of hoping that this was Kyoji's coming out party and that he came out of it as a new star.Maybe boring a bit too strong, but you don't really need to speak Japanese to get the appeal.
For these fighter/athelete types, image is really the most important thing and also why handsome/hot but less successful fighters get more attention/fame than the less physically appealing but more talented ones. A good e.g. is Megumi Fujii - excellent fighter but Pride/K1 wouldn't touch her whereas Shinju Auclair gets her 2nd or 3rd pro fight on NYE. Same thing with Rena and why she was more heavily marketed than say Kanna Asakura. It's very similar to the US in that regard I suppose.
Kyoji... well there's not much to say about him other than he's a great in the ring. But even in 2017 a Naoya Ogawa return fight would probably do better business than even Kyoji/Tenshin.
1. Alexander Otsuka
Mishima is pretty cool to watch...I think I vaguely remember that Bennett fight. Need to check this guy out.
Or for like granite chin...Garys uppercuts!...damn!!Yoshiaki Yatsu for best hair
By importance:
Sakuraba
Yoshida
Funaki
Ogawa
Hawtness
(Takada is #1 if that counts, which it shouldn't)
I really like your both lists. Yoshida most definately belongs on both. And glad you made that importance list too.
I also considered adding Takada on my list, because he has made big impact on Japanese mma. But I was afraid I would get kicked out of forum for trolling since I'm only white belt.
On my importance list there would be following: Sakuraba, Yoshida, Takada, Funaki, Gomi, Minowa, Fujita, Tamura, TK.
TK!...how could i forgot him!I really like your both lists. Yoshida most definately belongs on both. And glad you made that importance list too.
I also considered adding Takada on my list, because he has made big impact on Japanese mma. But I was afraid I would get kicked out of forum for trolling since I'm only white belt.
On my importance list there would be following: Sakuraba, Yoshida, Takada, Funaki, Gomi, Minowa, Fujita, Tamura, TK.
Funaki more accomplished than all of themBased on accomplishment during his entire career
Okami, uno, kikuta, gono, nakamura
Based on marketability at peak
Sato, sakuraba, gomi, takada, satake