Akira Shoji would beat every 155 fighter today

[TIMELESS TRUTH]

Shoji was as tough as they come, and fought WAY outside of his weight limit...
Would he be a champ today at 155?

 

[SaigeVanZant]

Obligatory

 

[Ken Fresno]

 

[TIMELESS TRUTH]

Strength, cardio, tenacity....Akira would steamroll today's noobs...

 

[TRYHARD 2001]

He was absolutely terrible. His most redeeming characteristic is he was better than Matsui. Gotta respect the strength of schedule and willingness to fight anyone I guess, but he occupied a spot in Pride that far more worthy international fighters deserved and he did so for the better part of a decade.

Every single Top 10 LW today is capable of UD'ing him, several would be able to finish him. Shoji would make 8K for three fights and then be out the door.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

I respect the pioneers of MMA, but the only Akira that would steamroll the current 155 division is

 

[Reign009]

Dude was fighting LHWs and HWs.

Pride was crazy times, bro.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

Did you just discover Akira Shoji's Sherdog page?

Dude never once made 155 in his entire life.

He was born 185.

 

[Kb7]

Stop it, now you're just being delusional.

 

[panem-et-circenses]

He might give Paddy an L

 

[Haliacmon]

Did you just discover Akira Shoji's Sherdog page?

Dude never once made 155 in his entire life.

He was born 185.

at least he fought once at 72kg, thats 158 lbs so I guess he could make 155 getting rid off that fat

 

[HuskySamoan]

Shoji was as tough as they come, and fought WAY outside of his weight limit...
Would he be a champ today at 155?

I think a young Misaki at 170lbs in the UFC today would do pretty damn well. His strikeforce swan song vs Daley where he was supposed to get knocked out but instead came on ripped and outstruck Semtex for 15 minutes in a fantastic fight was amazing. Also if Akiyama took his career more seriously and didn't debut as a Heavyweight and fuck around at Middleweight for so long, dude could have been a great Welterweight.

Common issue that Japanese fighters fight way outside of their weight class and have somewhat performative careers. I always felt they saw MMA as more spectacle than sport and took things like Judo, Wrestling and boxing more seriously. That seems to be changing though, the new crop of Japanese prospects seem really dialed in, on point with their divisions and good athletes.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

at least he fought once at 72kg, thats 158 lbs so I guess he could make 155 getting rid off that fat

I didn't know that to be fair

Consider myself educated!

 

[ChimRichalds]

You are absolutely baffling, good sir.

 

[FIghtxIQ]

I respect the pioneers of MMA, but the only Akira that would steamroll the current 155 division is

That's Tetsuo but dope movie. The first anime movie I ever watched. One of the all-time greats anime movies. Needs a legit live-action adaptation from a legit big-budget studio with a legit director.

 

[PhotographyRaptor]

Lolololololoolololol. Good job sir

 

[HHJ]

Shoji was over 200 lbs. One would hope so.

 

[Bearknuckle]

Who is Ryoto Machida?

 

[CerebralKnievel]

I respect the pioneers of MMA, but the only Akira that would steamroll the current 155 division is

Well, that's Tetsuo...

 

[CerebralKnievel]

That's Tetsuo but dope movie. The first anime movie I ever watched. One of the all-time greats anime movies. Needs a legit live-action adaptation from a legit big-budget studio with a legit director.

The only director I've ever been convinced would do it justice is Denis Villeneuve. Which now is obvious, given Dune.