The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

by Jeff Comstock on Dec 22, 2007 11:55 AM EST in News Comment 8 comments

Zach Arnold gives us his personal outlook on the Japanese MMA scene and it isn't pretty but it's a good read to get us in the mood for more bad news. Greg Savage at Sherdog.com is reporting that his sources are telling him that the Calvancante vs. Aoki bout will not take place on New Year's Eve. That's by far the fight I was most interested in watching over the holidays. If that bout is indeed scratched from the Yarennoka! card, it will be a huge letdown. The fight card (promoted in the USA as HDNet Fights: Fedor Returns) is short on fights as it stands. If Aoki and Calvancante are not fighting, that leaves the card with only six confirmed fights:

Fedor Emelianenko (26-1-0) vs. Hong Man Choi (1-0-0)
Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1-0) vs. Kazuo Misaki (18-8-2)
Kawajiri Tatsuya (19-4-2) vs. Luiz Azeredo (11-6-0)
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (30-7-2) vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa (14-8-4)
Mitsuhiro Ishida (15-3-1) vs. Gilbert Melendez (13-0-0)
Murilo Bustamante (14-6-1) vs. Makoto Takimoto (3-3-0)

Rather disappointing considering the support the show has from so many different promotions. Hopefully a Christmas miracle can deliver some late booking that adds a few more good fights to the card.

0 recs | Comment 8 comments

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Re: The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

Damn that hurts -- and not just because I've been puttering away at a big post about the Aoki/JZ match and how it'll be the 155lb fight of the year. URGGG, I saw those rumors coming out yesterday and didn't want to believe them. What a drag.
Maybe as a consolation prize, JZ or Melendez will come to the UFC in 2008. They're the only fighters I see coming between B.J. Penn and a long title run.

by Kid Nate on Dec 22, 2007 12:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

Roman Zentsov vs. Mike Russow has been rumoured to be added to the card

by smoogy on Dec 22, 2007 1:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

Sup smoogy, where have we seen Russow before? I'm thinking a late Pride show?

Jeff Comstock

by Jeff Comstock on Dec 22, 2007 1:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

How do the sources who say the fight isn't happening debunk the video interview with JZ on Sherdog? Seems like he thinks he's fighting and Aoki thinks he's fighting.
My bet is JZ's management team at ATT would rather this fight didn't happen and are trying to cockblock the fans and JZ.

by Kid Nate on Dec 22, 2007 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Grinch Who Stole JZ vs. Aoki

That article from Zach at Fightopinion was excellent stuff. The Japanese MMA scene reminds me of sausage - it is more easily digestible if you don't know the process that goes into making it.

I'm sure the fighters that moved from Pride over to UFC can sleep better at night now. Instead of getting those big paychecks from some shop owner getting leaned on for protection money or some prostitution or gambling rackets, they can now get it the old fashioned American Way....... by everybody else on the card making $2000.

Put me down as disappointed if the JZ and Aoki fight is called off. That fight and the Akiyama fight were the two i was most looking forward to. I'm a total Akiyama mark.

by robnashville on Dec 22, 2007 2:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs