Henry Cejudo vs. Norifumi Yamamoto?

by Luke Thomas on Dec 16, 2008 11:50 AM EST in News Comment 14 comments

Yamamoto's injury makes it unlikely, but the potential bout is right out of Japanese matchmaking:

Henry Cejudo, the only American to capture a gold medal in wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, recently negotiated with Japanese promoters for a match on that country’s biggest event of the year, the annual New Year’s Eve event on network television that has become almost a cultural institution.

Promoters wanted to throw Cejudo, 21, into the deep end, as they wanted him to face Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, Japan’s most popular MMA fighter. The match would have a storyline where Yamamoto would be fighting for national pride, since Cejudo defeated a fellow Japanese wrestler, Tomohiro Matsunaga, in the gold medal match in the 121-pound weight class.

However, Yamamoto, coming off knee surgery, at this point doesn’t look like he’ll be ready.

Rick Bassman, who represents Cejudo, said talks are still ongoing but with Yamamoto out, it makes it less likely Cejudo would be brought in to debut on such a high profile show.

I suppose it's good we're not losing Cejudo to boxing, but let's hope he's given an opponent with wrestling skills bad enough for Cejudo to grind out a decision. Overall, though, we need to foster the development of athletes this talented and accomplished. Eschewing Japanese matchmaking that leads to treating phenomenal but green athletes like sacrificial lambs for storyline and hype is paramount, ratings on Tokyo Broadcasting Systems be damned.

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Comments

What a genuinely stupid idea...

Seriously? Yamamoto as his first fight? I get the idea that it is “just how it works in Japan” but it’s a dumb ass plan for a guy like this.

Honestly I’d love to see Cejudo in a company like Strikeforce where he could be given tough, but not unreasonable challenges as preparation for a trip to the UFC. A recent olympic gold medalist with a spotless record coming into the UFC would be fantastic and bring mainstream attention to the sport.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 16, 2008 12:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I concur completely.

by Rundownloser on Dec 16, 2008 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As I’m sure Brent knows, Cejudo will never be in the UFC. His walking around weight is just a bit over 135lb. At best, he would be a bantamweight in the WEC.

Thankfully, it looks like this fight won’t happen.

by Gygax on Dec 16, 2008 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah...that's true...

I didn’t think about that part…I was so busy being fired up at the idea of Cejudo vs. Yamamoto.

Regardless…he could potentially bring some attention to the WEC as you said.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 16, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

This match would achieve nothing more than a quick one time gain at the expense of a developing a lucrative career. I just don’t see the point. Cejudo’s management has to look out for his long term interest here.

by Andy R on Dec 16, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I just want to see Yamamoto fight again. I don’t give a damn if it’s against Big Bird – Japanese MMA matchmaking has killed my inner child, so I don’t even get sad anymore when shit like this happens.

by subo on Dec 16, 2008 1:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Granted Yamamoto could easily knock him silly

But is it any more ridiculous than Muhammed Lawal who wrestled at 183 fighting Wiuff @ Heavyweight?

Yamamoto is a 1000 times better on his feet and could absolutely take Cejudo’s block off, but honestly I think his wrestling is SEVERELY overhyped. (remember I’m the guy that hates all things UFC and loves all Japanese MMA) I understand getting injured can happen and derail your olympic hopes… but in reality short of a small miracle he wasn’t going to make the team anyways. Its all hearsay because I haven’t seen it with my own two eyes, but apparently the 3 guys consensusly ranked above him on the Japanese team, (which includes a former World champion and a former Olympic bronze medal winner), are supposed to be WELL above him. So the chances of him making the Olympic team were low to begin with.

Now my point being, while Cejudo was naturally the smaller man wrestling at 55Kg who’s to say he couldn’t lay and pray Kid? Gold medalist vs guy that likely wasn’t going to make the olympic team… Stranger things have happened. Kid didn’t exactly look amazing against Bibaino Fernandes.

There have certainly been bigger mismatches before and will be again.

by skwirrl on Dec 16, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But is it any more ridiculous than Muhammed Lawal who wrestled at 183 fighting Wiuff @ Heavyweight?

Well, yeah, considering Yamamoto is great and Wiuff is just ok.

Knee injury notwithstanding, of course.

by Brett Jones on Dec 16, 2008 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What are you talking about? Wiuff won YAMMA, he is awesome. The one and only YAMMA Champ.

by szucconi on Dec 16, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great point!

by smoogy on Dec 16, 2008 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t it rather unlikely that a Japanese referee will allow the American to just hold down Yamamoto for the duration of the fight?

Bolts from the Blue // People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do.

by Richard Wade on Dec 16, 2008 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Definately a good point

There would be a little more encouragement to get that fight back on the feet and i’m sure they would. But even then they can only stand him up a few times so long as he stayed somewhat busy.

by skwirrl on Dec 16, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s true. If Yamamoto can’t stay on his feet for more than a few seconds at a time, Cejudo could probably ride out a victory. I guess we’ll see.

Bolts from the Blue // People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do.

by Richard Wade on Dec 16, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My point is

Wrestling is singularly the most dominant of MMA skills. Like I said Yamamoto could easily clean his clock but if the guy takes him down Yamamoto isn’t exactly a submission wizard. Lay’n’pray is an unlikely but still quite real possibility. You watched it the other night on TUF finale. The much better striker, Nover, (with better Jiu Jitsu), was completely neutralized by a better wrestler who took advantage of him every time he threw the cross. It was boring as hell in my opinion but it was Nover’s own fault for not relying solely on the jab and working on controlling distance. Better wrestlers can beat anybody within the confines of MMA rules IF they can get the TD.

by skwirrl on Dec 16, 2008 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs