Rinya Nakamura defeated the 2024 Olympic gold medalist

[HuskySamoan]

You heard it here first folks, Rei Higuchi the 2016 Olympic Silver medalist and 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist was beaten by MMA's Rinya Nakamura twice in 2017 and once in 2018. The 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist from Dagestan was also defeated by Rinya. Rinya is a far better wrestler than Bo Nickal as far as who he's beaten in both MMA and Freestyle, yet he gets no hype. He also beat Sandeep Tomar 2016 Asian Games Gold Medalist, Yuta Takahashi 2017 Worlds Gold and 2018 Worlds Bronze and Islam Dudaev 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2024 European Gold. The fact that Rinya doesn't get more hype is egregious, he's an explosive southpaw with fast hands and knockout power ontop of his wrestling base, I for one really hope he can start taking steps up in competition and become more active.

Here's a wrestling highlight of Rinya's at 1:50 you can see a clip from one of his winning matches vs Rei Higuchi. (If you're wondering why Rinya didn't wrestle for the Olympic team, he lost in the finals of the trials to Otoguro who would go on to win Gold in 2020)

 

[usernamee]

I keep forgetting this fucking guy exist for some reason it's weird lol

And I keep forgetting this chicks name so I thought the thread was about her

 

[markantony20]

Japan kicked ass this year at the Olympics.

Hopefully MMA might be in the future for some of the medalists this year.

Lower weight classes are on fire rn.

In general Japan has been on a fuckin tear in combat sports.

Pretty much own boxing from super bantamweight down, did fantastic in the Olympics this year, have some incredibly exciting prospects in MMA, and are THE Judo nation.

Also their kickboxing is always top notch, especially that kid that destroyed a decorated Nak Muay in his first ever MT fight.

 

[Iroh]

But could he beat a chimp?

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

Rinya is a true SUPER PROSPECT!!!!!

The only glaring flaw with him is that I don’t think he fights frequently enough. That makes him easy to forget.

Also he doesn’t have big social media presence to remind you that he is around

With a more frequent schedule and sound twitter call outs every now and then his hype would go through the roof

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He definitely gets hype, people took note when he came to the UFC.

Comparing him to Bo is a little silly though. Bo talks trash and does it in English. Of course he is going to be the forefront of a marketing push from the UFC, and by extension people on sherdog will be more familiar with him.

Most people on Sherdog are oblivious that Japanese are incredible at combat sports including wrestling (Asian stereotype). Probably this Olympics made people realize it, but they've always been a consistent leader.

 

[EndlessCritic]

Will have to wait until Rinya fights a warm body.

Rinya is in a way deeper division than Bo, and is very soon going to be fighting guys that he can't easily hold down.

 

[HuskySamoan]

But could he beat a chimp?

Chimps overrated, I'm not saying he can beat chimp but what are a chimps feats? I can jump out of a tree and clobber someone then proceed to bite their fingers off too. Animals get really overrated, I've seen a small guy grab a pretty fucking grown kangaroo by it's tail and hold it down lmao. All the stats seem made up too like them saying chimps are "twice as strong as a man" well Joe Kovacs the shotputter is repping 900lb squats and launching metal balls record distances, by that metric he's probably multiple times stronger than a chimp...Rinyas got a real chance, do chimps even have cardio?

I do think even if you win you'd get mauled but chimps are overrated.

He definitely gets hype, people took note when he came to the UFC.

Comparing him to Bo is a little silly though. Bo talks trash and does it in English. Of course he is going to be the forefront of a marketing push from the UFC, and by extension people on sherdog will be more familiar with him.

Most people on Sherdog are oblivious that Japanese are incredible at combat sports including wrestling (Asian stereotype). Probably this Olympics made people realize it, but they've always been a consistent leader.

Japan's top notch at boxing, Judo and Wrestling. Between JKickboxing and Kyokushin, top notch kickboxers too. They just don't seem too interested in MMA from a serious athletics perspective...I'm sorta hoping with these thoroughbred talents like Makoto Shinryu, Tatsuro Taira, Rei Tsuruya and even Rinya Nakamura that will begin to change and this get some high level success and the gyms begin to evolve and adapt...Japan has the resources to produce elite MMA fighters but their gyms aren't set up or connected to these resources largely, they're out of touch. They also have a tendency to not manage their fighters careers in the best way...they gotta figure it out.

Japan kicked ass this year at the Olympics.

Hopefully MMA might be in the future for some of the medalists this year.

Lower weight classes are on fire rn.

In general Japan has been on a fuckin tear in combat sports.

Pretty much own boxing from super bantamweight down, did fantastic in the Olympics this year, have some incredibly exciting prospects in MMA, and are THE Judo nation.

Also their kickboxing is always top notch, especially that kid that destroyed a decorated Nak Muay in his first ever MT fight.

I care more about age than accomplishments to an extent when talking prospects, guys like Rei Tsuruya who was a Greco Roman national champ in Japan and competed at the Cadet world games also had his amateur MMA debut at 15 and was signed to the UFC by 21. This to me is better than having some 26 year old Olympian cross over. Even in the US an Indonesia fighter Bilal Hasan was Pan Ams Tae Kwon Do gold Medalist for the U18 but he was also training with Mighty Mouse and Hume while in highschool.

It's cool when guys cross over but I think ideally they do it as early as possible and if below 185lbs, ideally before 24-25, which rarely happens because by that point they usually want to do another Olympics/Worlds etc.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Will have to wait until Rinya fights a warm body.

Rinya is in a way deeper division than Bo, and is very soon going to be fighting guys that he can't easily hold down.

Hopefully they put the Hiestand fight back together

 

[SamuraiBro]

I keep forgetting this fucking guy exist for some reason it's weird lol

And I keep forgetting this chicks name so I thought the thread was about her

Is this the same chick who ended up doing porn?

 

[Conan the K-9]

I’m impressed with his swimming skills.

 

[Joinho10]

Cool shit I think Rinya's hype will pick up once he gets finishes.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Chimps overrated, I'm not saying he can beat chimp but what are a chimps feats? I can jump out of a tree and clobber someone then proceed to bite their fingers off too. Animals get really overrated, I've seen a small guy grab a pretty fucking grown kangaroo by it's tail and hold it down lmao. All the stats seem made up too like them saying chimps are "twice as strong as a man" well Joe Kovacs the shotputter is repping 900lb squats and launching metal balls record distances, by that metric he's probably multiple times stronger than a chimp...Rinyas got a real chance, do chimps even have cardio?

I do think even if you win you'd get mauled but chimps are overrated.



Japan's top notch at boxing, Judo and Wrestling. Between JKickboxing and Kyokushin, top notch kickboxers too. They just don't seem too interested in MMA from a serious athletics perspective...I'm sorta hoping with these thoroughbred talents like Makoto Shinryu, Tatsuro Taira, Rei Tsuruya and even Rinya Nakamura that will begin to change and this get some high level success and the gyms begin to evolve and adapt...Japan has the resources to produce elite MMA fighters but their gyms aren't set up or connected to these resources largely, they're out of touch. They also have a tendency to not manage their fighters careers in the best way...they gotta figure it out.



I care more about age than accomplishments to an extent when talking prospects, guys like Rei Tsuruya who was a Greco Roman national champ in Japan and competed at the Cadet world games also had his amateur MMA debut at 15 and was signed to the UFC by 21. This to me is better than having some 26 year old Olympian cross over. Even in the US an Indonesia fighter Bilal Hasan was Pan Ams Tae Kwon Do gold Medalist for the U18 but he was also training with Mighty Mouse and Hume while in highschool.

It's cool when guys cross over but I think ideally they do it as early as possible and if below 185lbs, ideally before 24-25, which rarely happens because by that point they usually want to do another Olympics/Worlds etc.

MMA is just more show business in Japan. There isn't really that desperation for trying to be the best fighter. That's why a lot of fighters careers seem mismanaged, losing just isn't a big deal there.

Though there is a decent amount of amateurish/semi-pro infrastructure. Japan is going to be a titan at MMA sooner than later.

A lot of it will depend on Rizin and/or how the UFC markets itself in Japan.

 

[Xanzito]

I keep forgetting this fucking guy exist for some reason it's weird lol

And I keep forgetting this chicks name so I thought the thread was about her

ffs i thought i was the only one. I thought it was about this chick and i was confused when i saw a guy wrestling in the videos

 

[HuskySamoan]

MMA is just more show business in Japan. There isn't really that desperation for trying to be the best fighter. That's why a lot of fighters careers seem mismanaged, losing just isn't a big deal there.

Though there is a decent amount of amateurish/semi-pro infrastructure. Japan is going to be a titan at MMA sooner than later.

A lot of it will depend on Rizin and/or how the UFC markets itself in Japan.

Sure, for Japanese fighters in JAPAN that's fine, if they want success in bigger promotions abroad and internationally approaching it that way is sure to fail. They need to get their shit together and collaborate a top tier gym or two to set a standard is my point. Look at Evolve or Eagles in Russia, ATT, The Lab or AKA in the US. There's other examples in places like the UK, France, Brazil etc to varying extents. Japan doesn't have any gyms like this or a standard for coaching, training, fighter development and career management. They likely do have the talent and resources though, it's a first world country, they're elite in all other major combat sports too.

 

[usernamee]

Is this the same chick who ended up doing porn?

wouldn't u like to know champ

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

I love Japan

 

[blaseblase]

He definitely gets hype, people took note when he came to the UFC.

Comparing him to Bo is a little silly though. Bo talks trash and does it in English. Of course he is going to be the forefront of a marketing push from the UFC, and by extension people on sherdog will be more familiar with him.

Most people on Sherdog are oblivious that Japanese are incredible at combat sports including wrestling (Asian stereotype). Probably this Olympics made people realize it, but they've always been a consistent leader.

Bo is also blowing through everyone. Rinya got boo'd in his last fight. And of course a middleweight is getting more attention than a bantamweight.

 

[Brigfa2]

Because he is small af. If Taira was a MW everyone would've talk about him.
And his last fight was in february so he is not that active. Plus he is not a dagestani so he doesn't have a priviliges like Umar.

 

[Brigfa2]

He definitely gets hype, people took note when he came to the UFC.

Comparing him to Bo is a little silly though. Bo talks trash and does it in English. Of course he is going to be the forefront of a marketing push from the UFC, and by extension people on sherdog will be more familiar with him.

Most people on Sherdog are oblivious that Japanese are incredible at combat sports including wrestling (Asian stereotype). Probably this Olympics made people realize it, but they've always been a consistent leader.

They are not bad. You can see an American or Russian champs at lower weight classes but you can never see a Japanese champ at higher weight classes.